[00:00:03]
[CALL TO ORDER]
UH, WHEN I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD FOR FEBRUARY THE 26TH.UM, I'M GONNA DO A CALL TO ORDER AT THIS TIME.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE MEETING.
UM, ALSO JUST, OH, EXCUSE ME, PEDRO.
I'M, DID YOU GET KIM? OH, YES.
UM, JUST A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT.
UH, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR PARKING VALIDATION TICKETS, SO, UM, JUST, UH, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THOSE AND WE'LL, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE HERE, AND YOU'LL PROBABLY KNOW WHEN THEY'RE HERE.
AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
TO IS, UH, PUBLIC COMMUNICATION GENERAL.UM, AND I'LL MAKE A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT THAT ALREADY MADE, UH, BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED, WHICH IS IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE LET MR. AND YOU SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION GENERAL, PLEASE LET MR. DOBE KNOW WE DO HAVE MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
UM, SO IF YOU DID SIGN UP FOR A AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU WANNA SPEAK ON, IT'S NOT PUBLIC COMMUNICATION GENERAL.
IF YOU THINK YOU DID THAT, JUST CHECK WITH MR. DOBE HERE AT THE FRONT.
UM, MR. DOBE, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER? THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT IS TED EUBANKS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CLAIRE KREBS.
AND DO I, WHAT DO I HIT HERE? RIGHT BUTTON.
UM, I'M AN AUSTIN RESIDENT, UM, AND I'M ALSO A CERTIFIED INTERPRETED PLANNER AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE, UM, FRIENDS OF WILDRIDGE SQUARE.
THREE YEARS, FOUR MONTHS AND FIVE DAYS AGO WE SUBMITTED A CAP REQUEST TO MOVE THREE SAPLINGS TO OPEN UP ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AFRICAN AMERICAN VIEW CORRIDORS IN THE CITY.
AND I WANT TO GO OVER THAT VERY QUICKLY.
AH, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE SUBMITTED THIS REQUEST ON THE 21ST OF OCTOBER IN 2020.
UM, THIS IS THE CORRIDOR ITSELF.
TRAVIS COUNTY COURTHOUSE WITH THE PERGOLA IN THE CENTER OF WILDRIDGE SQUARE WITH THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER SITE.
UH, MOST OF YOU, I HOPE, KNOW THAT HUMAN SWEAT, TRAVIS COUNTY COURTHOUSE IS WHERE SWEAT DE PAINTER WAS TRIED THERE.
GOOD MARSHALL REPRESENTED THE NAACP AND THAT CASE WAS, WHICH WAS SETTLED AT THE SUPREME COURT, REALLY PAVED THE WAY FOR BROWN V BOARD OF EDUCATION.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT CASE IN BLACK CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY.
THE PERGOLA IN THE CENTER IS WHERE IN 1911, BOOKER T WASHINGTON SPOKE TO THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITE AT A TIME WHEN AUSTIN WAS VERY SMALL.
HE SPOKE FROM THAT PERGOLA BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK FROM THE CAPITOL.
AND THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN INVITED HIM TO COME SPEAK FROM THE BANDSTAND.
1948, LYNDON JOHNSON ANNOUNCED THIS SENATE CAMPAIGN.
HE WOULD GO ON, AS YOU WELL KNOW, IN THE SIXTIES, INSIDE THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, AND THOSE, THAT THOSE SEMINAL LEGISLATIVE ACTS IN CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY.
AND BEHIND THIS PICTURE IS WHERE THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER STANDS.
YOU KNOW, BEFORE IT WAS THE FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY SEGREGATED AND BEFORE THAT LIBRARY, IT WAS THE SITE OF TWO OF THE ORIGINAL FREEDMAN CHURCHES.
ONE WAS JACOB FONTAINE'S FIRST CHURCH THAT FACED GUADALUPE FIRST COLORED BAPTIST, AND THE OTHER WAS METROPOLITAN A ME.
THIS IS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT VIEW.
AND THESE THREE TREES THAT BLOCK THAT VIEW WERE PLANTED DURING THE PARK'S LAST RENOVATION, ACCORDING TO MARTY STUMP.
AND I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD GOD, IT WAS EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AGO.
SO WHENEVER IT WAS THAT THEY WERE PLANTED THERE BY MISTAKE, WHAT WE'VE ASKED IS TO MOVE THOSE TREES AND PLANT 'EM ELSEWHERE IN THE PARK.
[00:05:01]
ALL THE MITIGATION IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.WE SEQUESTRATION NO LOSS OF SHADE.
AND FOR THREE YEARS, FOUR MONTHS, AND FIVE DAYS, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR AN ANSWER.
I WOULD PREFER BEING ABLE TO SETTLE THIS QUIETLY, ASKING YOUR HELP AND THE DIRECTOR'S HELP TO GET THIS APPROVED IMMEDIATELY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CLAIRE KREBS, FOLLOWED BY ANDREA HILL.
MR. EUBANKS, MR. EUBANKS, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
HOLLY REED, UM, PARKS BOARD, UM, ARE THE TREES OF A SIZE THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY BE MOVED AND USED ELSEWHERE? AND THIS IS MAYBE A QUESTION FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UH, YOU KNOW, I I WOULD SAY NOT NOW, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S THE POWERPOINTS OFF.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT THE PICTURES I PUT, IF YOU COULD PUT THE LAST AT THE END OF THIS, THERE WE GO.
THERE YOU CAN SEE THE CONDITION OF THE TREES THAT WERE PLANTED.
UM, THEY'VE GONE THROUGH TWO ICE STORMS. THEY'VE GONE THROUGH REALLY DIFF UM, IMPROPER PRUNING.
UM, AND NOW WE HAVE THREE POOR QUALITY TREES.
OUR GOAL IS TO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPLACE THESE THREE TREES WITH LARGER TREES WHERE WE'VE LOST TREES.
AND THE, UH, THREE YEARS AGO IN, IN THE BIG TREES, WE LOST A COUPLE OF BIG TREES.
WE'VE ALREADY MOVED ONE HERITAGE OAK TO THAT SITE.
AND WE THINK WE MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE.
REPLACING THESE TREES IS NOT AN ISSUE.
WE CAN DO THAT AND DO IT WITH SOMETHING BETTER.
NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CLAIRE KREBS, FOLLOWED BY ANDREA HILL.
I'M A VOLUNTEER AT THE FESTIVAL BEACH COMMUNITY GARDEN, AND I SPOKE TO YOU GUYS LAST MONTH ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH PARD AND TXDOT TO IMPROVE THE SPACE BETWEEN OUR GARDEN AND I 35.
UM, BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE I 35 EXPANSION, WE'VE ASKED FOR A SOUND WALL.
WE'VE ASKED FOR, UM, WATERING STATIONS, IRRIGATION AND PLANTINGS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY BETWEEN US AND THE HIGHWAY.
AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS, UM, FOR ASKING QUESTIONS LAST TIME OF TDOT AND PARD.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT TEXDOT AND PART ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPORTING BACK TO YOU ON, ON HOW THAT CONVERSATION IS GOING SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN HELP, UM, US, UH, GET OUR COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS MET AND MAKE THAT SPACE NOT ONLY PRETTY FOR US, BUT ALSO THE PEDESTRIANS THAT ARE GONNA BE USING THAT, UH, SPACE IN BETWEEN US.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO USE MY TIME RIGHT NOW, UM, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S NOT AN AGENDA ITEM ON IT, UM, TO, UH, REITERATE THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, UM, LOOKING AT THE AMENITIES THAT ARE GONNA BE ADDED TO THAT AREA, BUT THEN ALSO TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION THAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE LEAD SAMPLING PLAN.
UM, THE LAST TIME THAT I SPOKE WITH YOU GUYS, UM, I EXPLAINED THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR LEAD SAMPLING TO BE TAKEN PLACE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY BECAUSE A, UM, OUR GARDEN HAD A FULL-BLOWN PHASE TWO ESA SAMPLING STUDY DONE IN 2014 THAT SHOWED ELEVATED LEVELS OF LEAD IN THE TOP FOOT OF SOIL.
AND THAT SAMPLING PLAN CON CONCLUDED THAT THAT LEAD, UM, WAS FROM THE HIGHWAY.
AND SO OUR CONCERN WAS, WELL, IF THERE'S GONNA BE ALL THIS EXCAVATION IN THE RIGHT OF WAY NEAR US, PLEASE TDOT SAMPLE THAT SOIL, MAKE SURE IT'S OKAY, UM, FOR US TO CONTINUE GARDENING NEAR THAT AREA.
SO WE'VE GOTTEN, UM, I THINK TODAY TXDOT SENT ITS LEAD SOIL SAMPLING PLAN.
AND I HOPE THAT WHEN YOU GUYS TAKE A LOOK AT IT, UM, YOU, UH, ASK TDOT AS WE ARE GOING TO DO TO SAMPLE INCREMENTS OF SOIL, NOT JUST IN THE TOP SIX INCHES AND SIX TO, TO 12 INCHES, BUT DO EXACTLY WHAT THE SAMPLING PLAN PREVIOUSLY WAS AND SAMPLE IN THREE INCH SEGMENTS SO THAT WAY YOU CAN DELINEATE THE, THE LEAD AND AVOID HOT MISSING HOT SPOTS.
BECAUSE IF YOU LUMP ALL, ALL THE SOIL TOGETHER AND JUST DO IT IN HALF FOOT INCREMENTS, YOU'RE GONNA MISS POTENTIAL HOT HOTSPOTS OF LEAD.
AND THE PREVIOUS SOIL SAMPLING REPORT SHOWED THAT EVEN IN ACROSS THREE INCHES, YOU GET, UM, ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS THAT CHANGE PRETTY RAPIDLY.
AND ONE OF THOSE LEVELS WAS 482 PARTS PER MILLION OF LEAD, WHICH IS JUST NEAR THE UNSAFE THRESHOLD FOR GARDENING, WHICH IS 500 PARTS PER MILLION OF LEAD.
AND WE DONATE THIS FOOD THAT WE GROW TO FOOD BANKS.
WE ARE OUT THERE WITH, IT'S MY PARK DAY
[00:10:01]
VOLUNTEERS.AND SO I, I AM JUST ASKING TO CONTINUE TO HARD AND T DOS WORK IN THE AREA AND MAKE SURE OUR SOILS ARE SAFE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREA HILL.
AFTER ANDREA WILL BE DIANA PROCTOR.
I'M A PART-TIME, MOSTLY RETIRED ATTORNEY, PART-TIME EMPLOYEE AT BARTON SPRINGS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BATHHOUSE, NOT THE NAMING OF IT, BUT THE CONTRACT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW AND WHY THAT CONTRACT WAS AWARDED, WAS AWARDED TO THE SAME ARCHITECTURE FIRM THAT REDID DEEP EDDIE.
THERE'VE ALREADY BEEN A LOT OF MISTAKES WITH THE REDOING OF DEEP EDDIE.
IT'S COST A LOT OF MONEY TO CORRECT A LOT OF THOSE.
SO WHY WERE THEY GRANTED THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE REDO? THERE'S ALSO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MONEY IN THE BATHHOUSE.
IT WENT FROM ABOUT A $3 MILLION ESTIMATE.
NOW IT'S OVER $20 MILLION WITHIN ONE YEAR.
A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO IT THAT SEEM OUT OF LINE UNNECESSARY, AND PEOPLE ARE WONDERING, WHY ARE WE DOING IT THIS WAY? THERE WAS SUPPOSEDLY PUBLIC INPUT, BUT SINCE MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES AND MOST OF THE REGULAR SWIMMERS HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON, YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT PUBLIC INPUT WAS TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE.
UM, AT THIS POINT, SOME OF US ARE WORKING ON GETTING A MODIFICATION OR MAYBE SOME CHANGE ORDERS TO THE CONSTRUCTION ITSELF.
UM, BUT I WISH SOMEBODY ON THE PARKS BOARD WOULD LOOK INTO HOW THESE CONTRACTS ARE AWARDED.
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONABLE CONTRACTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONTRACTS FOR VISION PLANS AND SPECULATIVE IDEAS.
WHEN MEANWHILE, BASIC MAINTENANCE AT THE PARK GOES UNDONE, TOILETS ARE NOT REPAIRED.
THERE'S BEEN NO CONCESSION STAND FOR SIX YEARS.
THERE'S BEEN NO TRAIN FOR FIVE YEARS.
A LOT OF THE RESTROOMS ARE BROKEN AND THEY'RE ARE NOT FIXED FOR MONTHS OR YEARS ON END.
UH, SOMEBODY REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND WE MIGHT CONSIDER THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT NEEDS A NEW LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE DIANA PROCTOR.
AND DIANA IS, UH, ACCEPTING A DONATION OF TIME FROM PATRICIA BOBBECK.
IS THAT RIGHT? IS PATRICIA HERE? COOL.
UH, SO AFTER DIANA WILL BE LIZ, HELLO PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.
THE EXISTING HISTORIC 1946 BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE, PREDATES SOS ORDINANCE AND DOES NOT COMPLY WITH SOSA RESTRICTIVE, A RESTRICTION OF IMPERVIOUS COVER SUCH AS ASPHALT AND CEMENT.
FULL COMPLIANCE WITH A SITE-SPECIFIC AMENDMENT TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WAS REQUIRED FOR THE REHAB PROJECT TO PROCEED.
THIS WAS SATISFIED BY THE PLANNERS.
HOWEVER, THE PROJECT CLAIMS TO PROVIDE A SAFER PUBLIC FACILITY.
THE DESIGN PROCESS IN 2018, CITIZENS WERE SHOWN THREE CONCEPTS.
EACH DESIGN WAS CLEARLY A RESPONSE TO EXPERIMENTS.
IMPERVIOUS GRASS COVER ALL THREE DESIGNS, HAD SOME SHOWERS FACING THE COURTYARD WITH UNOBSTRUCTED SIGHT LINES AND THE ABILITY TO HEAR INTRUDERS WHILE SHOWERING.
CONCEPT NUMBER THREE HAD THE LARGEST SQUARE FOOTAGE OF PERVIOUS COVER GRASS WAS MAXIMIZING PERVIOUS COVER.
THE PIVOTAL CONCEPT IN DESIGNING THE WOMEN'S BATHHOUSE AND NOT HISTORIC PRESERVATION, PRIVACY, AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE, OR WOMEN'S SAFETY.
HOWEVER, CONCEPT NUMBER THREE WITH THE LARGEST SQUARE FOOTAGE OF PERVIOUS COVER WAS THE FIRST CHOICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY BACK IN OCTOBER, 2018, WHO ALTHOUGH HE HAD NEVER USED THE WOMEN'S BATHHOUSE ANSWERED SURVEY QUESTION Q 10 AS FOLLOWS.
PLAN THREE DOES THE BEST TO RESTORE, REOPEN, AND IMPROVE USER EXPERIENCE LOVE KANATI.
BY 2019, WE DISCOVERED CHANGES TO THE OVERALL PROJECT.
INITIAL SCOPE ISSUES, A SURPRISINGLY DIFFERENT DESIGN OF THE WOMEN'S BATHHOUSE.
THE INITIAL SCOPE ISSUE TO REDUCE IMPERVIOUS COVER IN THE PARKING LOT WAS CROSSED OUT IN THE PARD 2019 PRESENTATION TO THE PUBLIC.
THIS X SUGGESTS THAT IMPERVIOUS COVER HAD BEEN SOLVED ELSEWHERE COMPARED THE FINAL DESIGN.
2019 AT LEFT WITH CONCEPT NUMBER 3, 20 18 AT RIGHT.
CONCEPT NUMBER THREE HAD THE MAXIMUM PERVIOUS COVER, BUT NO PRIVACY FOR SHOWERING.
THE FINAL DESIGN CREATED SHOWERS COMPLETELY HIDDEN FROM THE COURTYARD.
[00:15:01]
PERVIOUS COVER AS GRASS DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE FUNCTIONAL FEATURES THAT SUPPORT YEAR-ROUND SWIMMING SWIMMERS ARE ASKING WHY SPEND $14 MILLION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUNDS TO DESTROY THE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF THE 1946 BATHHOUSE.THIS PAST WEEKEND, I PERSONALLY MADE A PRESENTATION OF THE WOMEN'S BATHHOUSE TO 135 RANDOM PEOPLE ON SOUTH CONGRESS.
MANY WOMEN TOLD ME THE SHOWERS LOOK UNSAFE.
THE SHOWERS LOOK LIKE A PRISON.
THIS CURRENT PHOTO SHOWS THE EXACT FOOTPRINT OF THE PROPOSED SHOWERS.
SITE PLAN BELOW LEFT COMPARED TO EXISTING BELOW, RIGHT.
THE SITE PLAN'S CORRIDOR OF SHOWERS OCCUPY THE SAME FOOTPRINT AS EXISTING SHOWERS, THE RED RECTANGLE AND EXISTING DRESSING CUBICLES.
DAMAGED EQUITY FOR WOMEN SITE PLAN COMPARED THE SAFETY AND AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE INSIDE THE MEN'S BATHHOUSE BELOW LEFT TO WOMEN'S BATHHOUSE BELOW RIGHT VIEWED THE EXISTING 1946 WOMEN'S BATHHOUSE LONG SIGHT LINES.
ABILITY TO HEAR SOUNDS OF INTRUDERS WELL IN ADVANCE PROVIDES BOTH BEAUTY AND CLEVER HISTORIC DESIGN QUALITIES UNRECOGNIZED BY THE PLANNERS.
THESE ARE THE ACTIONS WE REQUEST OF PAR.
ACCEPT MY INVITATION TODAY TO TAKE A WALK AND TALK TOUR OF THE FACILITY BEFORE MARCH 8TH.
CALL OR EMAIL ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAYDEN HOWARD, TO SUPPORT THE SWIMMER'S NEEDS FOR SAFETY AND ETHICAL USE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS DEMAND EQUITY FOR WOMEN TO HAVE THE SAME RESPECT FOR RESTORATION, NOT DESTRUCTION THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE MEN'S BATHHOUSE HISTORIC ELEMENTS.
PUT THIS ISSUE ON THE PARV AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING ON MARCH 25.
I CALLED THEM THE WOMEN'S SWIMMER TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP.
WE MET WITH ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAYDEN HOWARD IN JANUARY.
SHE MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE ORDERS.
THE SPA GLASS PROJECT DIRECTOR, WHO'S VERY NICE TOLD US THAT CHANGE ORDERS ARE POSSIBLE UNTIL THE END OF APRIL OR EARLY MAY.
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CHANGE ORDERS WOULD NOT DELAY THE PROJECT AND WOULD REDUCE OVERALL COST.
YOUR SUPPORT FOR ANY DETAIL COULD POSSIBLY IMPROVE WOMEN'S SAFETY FOR THE IN THE BATHHOUSE FOR THE NEXT 75 YEARS.
WE REALLY COULD USE YOUR HOPE, YOUR SUPPORT, AND YOU'RE INVITED TO VISIT WITH THE WOMEN'S SWIMMER TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP AT THE BATHHOUSE FOR A PERSONAL TOUR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE LIZ BARN, FOLLOWED BY JOEL MANZO.
I'M LIZ BARR, HEIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.
AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THIS PAST MONTH.
UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND, A RC HOSTED THE HEART OF TEXAS REGATTA ON LADY BIRD LAKE AT FESTIVAL BEACH.
CLOSE TO A THOUSAND ATHLETES PARTICIPATED, 29 TEAMS, 25 OF WHICH WERE FROM TEXAS.
ENJOYED A GREAT WEEKEND OF RACING IN THIS UNEXPECTED BEAUTIFUL FEBRUARY WEATHER.
UM, A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PAR SPECIAL EVENT STAFF WHO WORKED WITH US ON THIS EVENT.
WE ARE ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW ROWING PROGRAM THAT WE WILL BE OFFERING THIS SUMMER THROUGH THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER'S WELLNESS PROGRAM.
IT WILL BE A WEEKLY CLASS WHERE WE TEACH ADULTS TO ROW AND THE GOAL WILL BE FOR THEM TO RACE IN THE, UM, OCTOBER, HEAD OF THE COLORADO REGATTA.
UH, THAT IS ON THE LAST SATURDAY OF OCTOBER.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO OUR MONTHLY PADDLING AND LEARN TO ROW PROGRAM THAT WE DO WITH THE MAC.
AND THEN CONTINUING TO BE A STEWARD OF LADY BIRD LAKE, A RC HOSTED TWO CLEANUPS THIS MONTH WITH KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL AND WATERSHED TO REMOVE 72 BAGS OF TRASH AND OTHER OBJECTS, UM, FROM THE LAKE AND THE TRAIL.
SO IN CLOSING, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JOEL MANZO.
JOEL MANZO, FOLLOWED BY ZOE CARLSON.
MY NAME IS JOEL MANSO, DISTRICT SEVEN, BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE.
UM, I'M HERE TO INFORM YOU AND ASK YOU TO PUT THE AUSTIN BASEBALL, UH, ADULT COMMUNITY ON THE AGENDA.
[00:20:01]
UH, WE'VE SEEKING MORE ACCESS, WHICH WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO THE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND BETTER THEIR, UH, EXPERIENCE AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT.UM, I INVITED MORE BALL PLAYERS TODAY.
IF Y'ALL CAN PLEASE ALL STAND UP.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
THIS IS A FRACTION OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP ON GROWING.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP OUR SHOW IN OUR FACES AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP ON FIGHTING.
JOEL IS, UH, DONATING, UH, TWO MINUTES OR HOW MANY HOW MUCH TIME IS THAT? HI, IS DONATING TWO MINUTES TO, UH, JASON.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? WILLIAMS. WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.
UM, I'M THE, UH, OWNER OF, UH, GAME TIME FIELDS AND I, UH, HAVE VOLUNTEERED AT NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE FOR MANY YEARS.
AND THAT'S WHAT IN TURN LED ME TO BE OWNING A COMPANY THAT MAINTAINS FIELDS.
I'M ALSO VOLUNTEER AND BOARD MEMBER AT NORTHWEST PONY, WHERE I MAINTAIN THAT BASEBALL FIELD PRO BONO.
AS I'VE DECIDED TO MAKE THIS A CAREER, I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER SPORTS FIELDS OWNED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THESE ARE RENTED OUT TO YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS AND A ISD.
AND OFTEN THE YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS DON'T HAVE THE QUANTITY OF PARTICIPANTS TO RAISE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO MAINTAIN THE FIELDS.
AND SO AS A RESULT, THE FIELDS ARE UNMAINTAINED.
THE YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATION LOSES PARTICIPATION AND OFTEN THEY'RE UNSAFE.
ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH BEING A PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S DOING THIS, I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT BASEBALL FIELDS ARE NOT OPEN TO USE FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND, UM, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO USE THEM AND THERE'S TIME AVAILABLE WHEN THE LEASE, THE PRIMARY LEASEES ARE NOT USING THEM.
SO I TOO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO GET ON THE AGENDA FOR A FUTURE MEETING, WHICH ALLOWS AN AVENUE FOR PARKS AND REC TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO LEASE OUT THE FIELDS.
AND THEN IN RETURN, THE FUNDS GO BACK TO THE FIELDS FOR MAINTENANCE.
SO MORE FIELDS CAN BE USED BY MORE PEOPLE AND THEY CAN BE IN BETTER CONDITION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ZOE CARLSON, FOLLOWED BY SANTIAGO.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FROM HEARING FROM US TODAY.
I'M HERE FROM THE AUSTIN SANDLOT BASEBALL COMMUNITY.
CALVE PIN JR SAID YOU COULD BE A KID FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT WHEN YOU PLAY BASEBALL.
THIS QUOTE BY ONE OF THE BEST MLB PLAYERS GETS AT THE HEART OF THE GAME.
ONE OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES IS PLAYING T-BALL AND TAKING A LINE DRIVE STRAIGHT TO THE CHEST.
ONCE MY FATHER AND MY COACH, UH, SAW THAT I WAS OKAY, THEY HAD A LITTLE LAUGH, AND THAT'S WHEN I LOVED THE SPORT.
UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE MOST PEOPLE, I ENDED UP QUITTING AND NOT BECOME ONE OF THE FEW THAT PLAY FOR THE MAJORS.
MANY LEAVE THE SPORT DUE TO LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES.
DISINTEREST, UH, YOU KNOW, OVER COMPETITION, THE FEELING OF A LOVE TURNED INTO A JOB OR SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A MAN.
THIS LEAVES MANY WITH A SOUR NOTE AND REGULATES 'EM FROM BEING AN ATHLETE TO A MERE SPECTATOR.
THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT WOMEN DO NOT PLAY BASEBALL, THAT THEY PLAY SOFTBALL.
THE SAM LOCK COMMUNITY EXCELS ENCOUNTERING THESE BAD EXPERIENCES.
WE ARE AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY AND STRIVE TO HEAL THROUGH BASEBALL.
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER ONE WAS BORN, A MAN WAS BORN A WOMAN.
IT DOES, UH, NOT MATTER WHAT GENDER THEY IDENTIFY WITH CURRENTLY.
IT ONLY MATTERS THAT THEY HAVE FUN.
SANDLOT BASEBALL EMPHASIZES POSITIVITY, ISSUING SERIOUSNESS WHILE MAINTAINING LIGHTHEARTED COMPETITION.
WHEN ANYBODY MAKES A GREAT PLAY, EVERYBODY CHEERS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE NO SCOUTS WATCHING THESE GAMES.
I AND ANY OTHER WOMAN DO NOT HAVE THE FEELING OF WELL UNWELCOMENESS OR BEING REGULATED TO PLAYING JUST SOFTBALL.
THE ONLY REQUIREMENT ANYONE HAS EVER ASKED OF ANY WOMAN IS TO HAVE FUN.
THE BIGGEST BURDEN THAT WE HAVE AS BASEBALL COMMUNITY IS LOCAL FIELD ACCESS.
THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PLACES THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE A BASEBALL GAME IN THE CITY THAT ADULTS CAN PLAY ON.
AND MANY OF THESE FIELDS ARE ONLY SIZED FOR SOFTBALL GAMES.
IT IS HARD TO GET TOGETHER WHEN PROSPECTIVE FIELDS ARE BOOKED UP OR CLOSED OFF TO US COMPLETELY.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS, UH, KIND OF RELATIONSHIP IS A TWO-WAY STREET.
MANY OF US ARE VERY ACCUSTOMED TO RAKING INFIELDS AND PICKING UP TRASH AFTER GAMES.
UH, WE DO COMMUNITY, UH, GET TOGETHERS AND DO FIELD CLEANS FOR THE FEW FIELDS THAT WE DO USE TOGETHER.
WE, UM, WE WISH TO KEEP GROWING THE SAND LOCK COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND EVERY DAY I SEE BUMPER STICKERS THAT SAY, KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD.
I LIKE TO THINK THAT SANDLOT BASEBALL IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT AUSTIN WEIRDNESS.
GREATER ACCESS TO FIELDS WILL HELP GROW THIS LOCAL COMMUNITY.
WE, IN TURN, WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS A LITTLE MORE BEAUTIFUL EACH DAY.
IT'LL BE ALLOW US TO BE LIKE CAL, RICK, AND JUNIOR
[00:25:01]
AND BE KIDS FOR A FEW MORE HOURS EACH GAME.OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SANTIAGO.
I'M, UH, I'M HERE TO CONVEY A LETTER, UH, FROM HISTORIC LANDMARK, UM, PRESERVATION, UH, THAT IS BEING SENT TO CITY COUNCIL.
UM, WITH REGARD TO, UH, IN PARTICULAR AN INCOMPLETE, UH, TREE SURVEY, UH, OR, UM, TREE INVENTORY, UM, ALONG TOWN LAKE, UH, NEAR I 35.
UM, AND SPECIFICALLY AROUND A PECAN GROVE, UH, THAT IS MARKED BY A HISTORICAL MARKER OF 1965.
UM, OH, I THINK I'VE SPOKEN TO THIS DA COUPLE TIMES, JUST WANTING TO BRING THIS UP AGAIN, UH, AND ENSURE THAT THIS IS BEING COMMUNICATED.
UM, THERE'S EQUIPMENT BEING STAGED UNDER I 35 CURRENTLY.
UM, FROM EVERYTHING I'VE GATHERED, UH, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE POINT OF ENTRY FOR, UM, CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IS, UH, AND SO I I I WANT TO ASK THAT, UH, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW, WHAT MECHANISMS THIS COMMISSION HAS, BUT, OR THIS BOARD HAS.
BUT, UM, TO DIRECT THE CITY ARBORIST, UH, TO COMPLETE THE INVENTORY OF TREES, UM, TO ENSURE THAT ALL, UM, PECAN TREES, UH, THE MATURE PECAN TREES, THERE'S SIX, SIX PECAN TREES THAT ARE, UM, IDENTIFIED TO BE PERMANENTLY REMOVED.
UH, THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THE RECREATIONAL VALUE OF, UM, THAT LAND, UM, TEXTILES REQUIRE REQUESTING A TEMPORARY NON-CONFORMING USE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT THE SECTION SUCCESS CONVERSION.
UH, I KNOW THAT ORACLE SITE DID THIS.
UM, LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND, UH, 1964 PROTECTS THESE PROPERTIES, UH, WANT TO ENSURE THAT A VALUE, A EQUAL AND UM, USABLE PIECE OF LAND IS GOING TO BE, UH, IDENTIFIED.
UM, AND THAT HAS YET TO BE MADE PUBLIC OR HAS YET TO BE VOTED ON BY THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THAT THAT IS, UH, AN AGREEABLE, UM, EXCHANGE EITHER FOR WALLER BEACH OR FOR THE POTENTIAL THAT THE TEMPORARY NON-CONFORMING USE GOES ABOVE SIX MONTHS.
UH, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DOES, UM, AGREE WITH THIS, THIS POSITION.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT THIS BOARD, UH, AND, UM, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT UNDERSTANDS, UH, THAT POSITION AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NEGOTIATING WITH TXDOT ACCORDINGLY.
UM, AND THAT WE ULTIMATELY ARE GETTING, UH, THAT VALUE PRESERVED.
UM, SO YEAH, TO RESTATE, UM, CITY ARBORIST, UH, PLEASE GET THEM TO COMPLETE THIS INVENTORY.
OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE C RICHNER.
C RICHNER WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR US OUT TODAY, UH, WITH THE ALO COMMUNITY.
UM, OUR HOPE IS TO GET ON THE AGENDA SO YOU CAN KEEP HEARING FROM US AND KEEP UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
AS JASON WAS SAYING, UM, THERE ARE PLENTY OF FIELDS THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE, UM, YOU KNOW, EITHER HIGH TEENS, 18 YEAR OLDS OR ADULTS WHO BASICALLY PLAY ON ABOUT THE SAME DIMENSIONAL FIELDS.
AND, UH, SANDLOT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 12 YEARS OR SO.
AND IT STARTED, IT STARTED, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH A CORE GROUP OF GUYS WANTING TO GET TOGETHER AND PLAY BALL.
AND, UM, SINCE THEN, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING IN 2010.
SINCE THEN, IT'S BLOWN UP AND WE'RE PUSHING 20 TEAMS OR SO.
AND IT'S, IT'S KIND OF SWEEPING, I WOULDN'T SAY THE NATION, BUT IT IS KIND OF GROWING.
YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THERE'S A FULL COMMUNITY, AND AUSTIN IS IN SOME PARTS, KIND OF KNOWN AS LIKE THE BIRTHPLACE OF THIS, OF THIS, UH, ADULT RECREATIONAL MOVEMENT.
AND, UM, AS ZOE WAS MENTIONING, WE'RE VERY INCLUSIVE.
THE, THE, THE, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A LOVE FOR A GAME AND GOOD ATTITUDE, YOU, YOU'RE INVITED, YOU'RE IN.
AND, UH, AS WE KNOW, WE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN PARKS THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE US.
SO, SO FAR ALL WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY MAKE, LIKE, BE ABLE TO WORK WITH IS GO VALLEY, BUT THERE IS, UH, OSA GUERRERO, CHEF FIELD, BECHTEL HARPER, LORRAINE CAMACHO, AND THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT SITES THAT IF, IF WE ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE CITY, WE CAN HOPEFULLY WORK WITH, UH, THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND SEE MORE TIME AT THE FIELDS AND JUST
[00:30:01]
KIND OF SPREAD OUR LOVE OF THE GAME.AND AS JASON WAS MENTIONING, BRING THOSE FIELDS BACK FROM MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF NEGLECT AND DISREPAIR BACK INTO SOMETHING THAT, UM, WITH OUR TIME AND EFFORT AND RESOURCES, BRING IT BACK TO ITS FULL, UH, UH, POTENTIAL.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR.
WE HOPE, UH, WE HOPE TO, THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO HEAR US OUT AND WE CAN GET SOME ACCESS HERE PRETTY SOON.
THAT'S ALL 10 SPEAKERS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES.UM, THIS IS, UH, REGARDING THE JANUARY 22ND, 20, 24 MINUTES.
SO I'LL GIVE EVERYONE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THAT.
IS THERE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR CHANGES TO THE MINUTES? ALL RIGHT.
WITHOUT ANY SUGGESTIONS OR CHANGES.
UM, I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, REGULAR MEETING O OF JANUARY THE 22ND, 2024.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOTION, UH, CARRIES NINE ZERO.
WE'RE NOW MOVING TO DISCUSSION AND
[2. Discussion and possible action regarding letters of support for the Parks and Recreation Department Nature Programs Team. ]
ACTION ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, NATURE PROGRAMS. TEAM CHAIR.WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENTER ON THIS ITEM.
I JUST QUICKLY WANTED TO JUST COMMEND THE, THE EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO WITH THE AUSTIN NATION SCIENCE CENTER.
I DIDN'T KNOW THE FULL DETAILS OF THIS LETTER IS, BUT I'VE WORKED WITH JESSICA GIZO AND SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS, NOT ONLY IN PARKS DEPARTMENT, BUT WATERSHED PROTECTION.
AND THEY DO SOME GREAT WORK WITH EDUCATING OUR KIDS AROUND THE, THE SPACE AT BARTON SPRINGS AND THE AQUIFER AND WATERSHED.
AND I'M NOT SURE I KNOW THE BACKGROUND ON THIS PARTICULAR LETTER FROM WHAT I SAW.
I'M DELIGHTED TO SEE MRS. GIL GETTING SOME RECOGNITION FOR SOME GREAT WORK SHE'S DONE FOR THE CITY AND FOR BARTON SPRINGS.
AS, UH, THE PRESENTATION'S GETTING PULLED UP, I'LL GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE MYSELF.
MY NAME IS AMANDA ROSS AND I'M THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES
[00:35:01]
WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.UM, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND I HAVE A FEW PEOPLE WITH ME.
UH, WE HAVE OUR PROGRAM MANAGER OVER NATURE BASED PROGRAMS, JESSICA GIZO.
WE HAVE, UM, RYAN KER, WHO IS, UH, THE SUPERVISOR OVER CAMACHO ACTIVITY CENTER, AND WE ALSO HAVE HAILEY GILLESPIE, WHO IS OUR SUPERVISOR OVER FACILITIES AT THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER.
WE HAVE ONE OTHER SUPERVISOR WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY.
THIS GROUP LEADS A TEAM OF 27 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS WHO, UM, WORK TO IMPLEMENT NATURE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE, UM, THROUGHOUT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND WE ARE JUST REALLY EXCITED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND HOPEFULLY GIVE YOU, UM, SOME FUN THINGS TO DREAM ABOUT TONIGHT AND HOPEFULLY SOME REACH BACK INTO SOME CHILDHOOD MEMORIES AND THINK ABOUT NATURE AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THIS GROUP DOES.
UH, SO THIS GROUP INCLUDES THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER, WHICH IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, UH, PLEASE COME AND SEE US.
IT'S, UM, A OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND VISITORS EACH YEAR.
UM, WE DO SOMETHING CALLED NATURE TRADE.
SO YOU CAN GO OUT, YOU CAN COLLECT A ROCK, A LEAF, A FOSSIL SOMETHING, AND YOU CAN BRING IT IN AND YOU CAN TELL A VOLUNTEER ABOUT IT, AND THEY CAN THEN GIVE YOU POINTS AND YOU CAN THEN TRADE UP FOR ANOTHER NATURE ITEM.
AT THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER.
WE DID 22,000 TRADES ON THAT PROGRAM LAST YEAR.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S FIVE BUILDINGS.
THERE'S MULTIPLE EXHIBITS AND INCLUDING THAT, THERE'S ALSO, UH, 76 AMBASSADOR ANIMALS.
SO THESE ARE, UM, SMALL TO LARGER ANIMALS.
UM, MOXIE, OUR BOBCAT IS THERE.
YOU CAN COME AND SAY HI TO HER ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
UM, THIS IS, UM, ONE OF OUR NEWER ANIMALS.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS QUILLY NELSON OR IF THIS IS JUNIPER.
JUNIPER IS A LITTLE CALMER, BUT COME AND SEE HER SOMEDAY.
WE, WE ACTUALLY TRIED TO GET HER IN THE AREA SO YOU GUYS COULD SEE HER TODAY, BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
SO COME AND SEE US, UM, AT THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER THAT WE CAN SHOW THEM TO YOU.
UM, PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS HAS, IT TAKES A LOT TO RUN AND MAKE SURE THESE ANIMALS ARE ON SITE, AND THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL THE PROGRAMMING THAT'S DONE AT THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER.
UM, IN ADDITION, WE ALSO HAVE A PRESCHOOL ON SITE AT THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, THIS IS A SPACE TO ALLOW KIDS TO RUN WILD IN THE NATURE PRESERVE NEXT DOOR AT ZILKER.
AND IT DOES SOME REALLY, REALLY AMAZING CORE FOUNDATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR THESE CHILDREN, UM, IN A, A CERTIFIED PROGRAM TOO.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS IS, UM, WE HAVE TO MEET ALL THOSE CERTIFICATIONS AND REGULATIONS AS WELL.
ALSO WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, CAMACHO ACTIVITY CENTER.
UM, SO THIS IS A, A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM OVER AT CAMACHO.
THEY DO A TON OF ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN.
THEY PARTICULARLY FOCUS ON, UM, A LOT OF BIKING.
UM, YOU WILL SEE SUMMER CAMP STUDENTS WHO GO OUT THERE EVERY SUMMER WHO ARE HIKING, OR SORRY, BIKING 10 MILES ON THE LADY BIRD LAKE HIKING BIKE TRAIL WITH, WITH, UM, CAMACHO.
YOU WILL SEE THEM OUT ON THE WATER.
UH, THEY DO FAMILY TRIPS FROM CAMACHO DOCK OUT TO SEE THE BATS ON THE EVENING.
UM, AND IT'S, UM, THEY ALSO, UM, ACTUALLY THIS EVENING WE'RE, UM, HELPING DO SOME A DA ACCESSIBLE GROUPS ON THE DOCK AS WELL TODAY TO GET THEM OUT AND INTO THE WATER IN A WAY THAT'S ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYBODY AND AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE THE BEVERLY S SHEFFIELD EDUCATION CENTER IN THIS GROUP.
AND SO THIS IS A, A FUN PLACE TO BE.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF BE THE ENTRANCE TO BARTON SPRINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, WE EXPECT OUR VISITATION TO PROBABLY BE, HOPEFULLY SOMEWHERE NEAR THAT MILLION PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT THE SPRINGS EACH YEAR AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LEARN ABOUT THE SALAMANDERS THAT THEY'RE SWIMMING WITH AND WHY THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT.
UM, SO THIS IS ALSO ONE OF OUR SITES AS WELL.
UM, SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THESE, THIS TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND AGAIN, 27 STAFF, UM, FOR THESE THREE FACILITIES IN THIS MANY, MANY PROGRAMS THAT THEY DO, THEY DO SCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO LAST YEAR ALONE, THEY DID 269 CLASS FIELD TRIPS.
UH, THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE FIELD TRIPS YOU ALL WENT ON AS CHILDREN AND HOW MEMORABLE THEY WERE.
THEY PROVIDE THAT FOR, UM, DAILY ALMOST TO OUR, OUR, OUR AUSTIN, UM, AND SURROUNDING AREA SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH HOMESCHOOL GROUPS AND MEETUPS, UM, AND WE ALSO DO OUTREACH TO OUR RECREATION CENTERS AS WELL.
AND, UH, JUST SOME NUMBERS HERE TO SHOW YOU.
AND THEN THIS IS ONE OF OUR AMBASSADOR ANIMALS, UM, GETTING A LITTLE, UM, HE GETS TWO FINGERS ON, UH, SO THAT CHILDREN CAN ENJOY AND, AND TOUCH AND FEEL IT AS WELL.
SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ALSO DO PUBLIC PROGRAMS.
[00:40:01]
SO THERE'S TWO KIND OF SPECIAL EVENTS EACH YEAR.WE'RE ACTUALLY COMING UP ON ONE.
IT'S USUALLY THE WEEKEND AROUND EARTH DAY, SO IT'S COMING UP ON APRIL 20TH.
COME ENJOY, UH, SPECIAL, SPECIAL TALKS, AMBASSADOR ANIMALS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE SPACE AS WELL.
I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT THEM.
I TRIED TO REGISTER MY CHILDREN AND COULD NOT GET THEM IN THIS WEEKEND, AND I'M SURE I WASN'T.
I ACTUALLY KNOW I WAS NOT ALONE IN THAT.
UM, HOW QUICKLY THOSE CAMPS FILL UP.
THESE ARE WELL LOVED, WELL APPRECIATED, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SAFETY THAT HAS TO GO INVOLVED.
THEY'RE TAKING KIDS CAVING, THEY'RE TAKING KIDS ROCK CLIMBING, THEY'RE TAKING THEM BIKING, UH, THEY'RE TAKING THEM OUT ON THE WATER.
UH, THEY'RE, UM, CAMACHO HAS A FILM CAMP AND IN THE FALL THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE, UH, PARTICIPANTS TO ACTUALLY VIEW OR HAVE LIKE A RED CARPET WALKING AND ACTUALLY DEBUT THEIR FILMS. UM, SO THESE ARE, THIS IS A FUN, SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND EFFORT TO PULL OFF, BUT ON THE DAY OF, THERE'S NOTHING BUT ENJOYMENT AND SMILES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UM, SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
AND SO JUST OVER 50,000 PARTICIPANT HOURS WITH SUMMER CAMP ALONE THAT WE'RE COMING UP ON, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
UM, AND ALSO WANTED TO MENTION A COUPLE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT THEY DO.
UM, JESSICA IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN REALLY INTEGRAL TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE AT BARTON SPRINGS.
UM, THE CELEBRATION OF JOAN MEANS CABELA'S EFFORTS FOR DE DESEGREGATION AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE PUT A LOT HER HEART AND SOUL INTO MAKING SURE HAPPENED.
UM, WE'VE HAD A, SHE'S WORKED VERY HARD ON THE COLOR OF WATER EXHIBIT.
THAT'S ALSO, UM, FOR OUR FUTURE AS WELL TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE, THE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AT BARTON SPRINGS.
UH, PREVIOUSLY WE'VE ALSO HAD A WHITE SHAMAN EXHIBIT AT THE, UM, BEVERLY F SHEFFIELD EDUCATION EXHIBIT.
SO AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WEAVE SOME OF THOSE GREAT MESSAGES INTO OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.
AND A BIG ONE COMING UP FOR US, UM, IS, UM, COMING UP IN APRIL.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GET YOUR ECLIPSE GLASSES, PLEASE JOIN US OUT.
UH, JESSICA'S ALSO HELPING TO ORGANIZE THIS FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY SO PEOPLE CAN COME AND ENJOY THIS KIND OF, HOPEFULLY WELL, UH, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, BUT TWICE, ALMOST IN ONE YEAR.
UM, AND SO JESSICA'S ALSO HELPING LEAD THIS.
SO THIS TEAM REALLY DOES A LOT TO BRING NATURE ALIVE AND IMPORTANT TO KIND OF THE, THE FUTURE GENERATION OF AUSTIN, AS WELL AS, UM, KIND OF AUSTIN THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
A LOT OF WHAT AUSTIN IS, IS, UM, IS REALLY BASED ON ITS NATURE AND THIS, THIS TEAM IS REALLY, REALLY, UM, REALLY WORKS VERY HARD TO MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO BE PART OF AUSTIN.
AND I'M PROUD TO WORK WITH THEM.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
AND WHAT WAS THE FOURTH NAME YOU SAID? I, WHAT WAS THE FOURTH NAME? I DIDN'T QUITE CATCH.
AND, UH, MELISSA IS THE OTHER SUPERVISOR.
MELISSA IS THE OTHER SENIOR SUPERVISOR.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY.
UM, I WANTED TO READ A LETTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO THE TEAM THAT WAS JUST MENTIONED.
UM, AS Y'ALL KNOW, I, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE, UH, STARTED TO DO AS PART OF THE, AS PART AS CHAIR IS AND HOPEFULLY GETS CONTINUED IS, UH, RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE GREAT EFFORTS THAT THE PARK STAFF IS DOING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, AND I THINK THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT, AND IT REALLY SHOWS THE AMAZING THINGS THAT, UH, WE'RE DOING, UM, IN ORDER TO GET KIDS AND ADULTS ENGAGED AS WELL IN OUR, IN OUR SPACES AS WELL.
SO I'M GONNA READ THIS LETTER AND THEN I WILL ASK, UH, FOR, UH, I WILL ASK THAT THIS BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
SO, UM, DEAR AND THEN EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON'S NAME, BUT WE ARE WRITING TO EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION FOR YOUR EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CENTERS.
YOUR DEDICATION, CREATIVITY, AND TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE QUALITY OF OUR CENTERS AND ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES WE OFFER TO OUR COMMUNITY.
YOUR INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING OUR CENTERS HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED.
YOUR VISION HAS BROUGHT ABOUT REMARKABLE CHANGES THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED CENTERS INTO VIBRANT HUBS FOR LEARNING AND EXPLORATION, FROM REVAMPING, UH, FACILITIES TO INTRODUCING EDUCATION CAPTIVATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.
YOUR INITIATIVES HAVE TRULY ELEVATED OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY YOUR INGENUITY IN DEVELOPING CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE AND INSPIRE VISITORS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS.
YOUR ABILITY TO COMBINE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE WITH INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE HAS MADE LEARNING BOTH MORE ENJOYABLE AND ENRICHING FOR OUR GUESTS.
THROUGHOUT YOUR EFFORTS, YOU HAVE FOSTERED A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR NATURE, SCIENCE, CULTURE,
[00:45:01]
AND THE ENVIRONMENT AMONG OUR VISITORS LEAVING A LASTING IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES.FURTHERMORE, YOUR COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT AND WILLINGNESS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN FOSTERING A POSITIVE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WHERE BRIDGES ARE BEING BUILT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND FOR MAKING A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT WE SERVE.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL ASK THAT WE APPROVE, UH, THESE LETTERS BEING SENT OUT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM.
THAT WAS, THAT WERE MENTIONED THIS EVENING.
UM, IS THERE A SECOND? I I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
THERE'S A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER BAAN.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, I WILL THEN, UH, GET A, I WILL ASK, UH, IF YOU ARE SORRY, IF YOU APPROVE, UH, UH, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL RIGHT, NINE ZERO THE MOTION PASSES.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.
UM, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA
[3. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve an ordinance to amend Title 25 related to the environmental protections at the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. ]
ITEM NUMBER THREE AND WE WILL, UH, NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.WE HAVE ABOUT, I THINK 10 PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
OUR OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTER WILL BE TED EUBANKS, FOLLOWED BY ROBIN RATHER.
AND THEY'LL BE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I, UM, I'VE LOOKED OVER THIS PROPOSAL.
I, I'VE DONE TRAILS ALL THROUGH THIS COUNTRY.
I'VE DONE WATER TRAILS, BOAT TRAILS, KAYAK TRAILS, FISHING TRAILS, HIKING TRAILS, INTERPRETIVE TRAILS.
AND WHAT STUNS ME ABOUT THESE PROPOSALS IS I CAN'T FIND THE NUMBERS, I CAN'T FIND THE DATA THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE CONCLUSIONS.
SO I WOULD ASK VERY SIMPLY NUMBER ONE, BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY DECISION, PLEASE LOOK AT A, AN ANNUAL TRAIL USAGE SURVEY BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE? THERE ARE NOT 5 MILLION USERS.
I PROMISE YOU THERE MAY BE 5 MILLION USES.
30,000 PEOPLE, INCLUDING WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS, CAN GENERATE FOUR AND A HALF MILLION USES.
SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY END OF VISUAL USERS ARE THEY GENERATING THESE USES? THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE NUMBER IN PARK PLANNING IS 90 10.
90% OF THE USES IS GENERATED BY 10% OF THE USERS.
IT MAY BE THAT IT MAY NOT BE THAT, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW BEFORE DECISIONS ARE MADE ABOUT WIDENING TRAILS AND WHERE YOU WIDEN THEM, WHAT SURFACES TO USE, ET CETERA.
YOU HAVE BASIC DATA NEEDS THAT I DON'T SEE.
IF YOU DECIDE THAT, YEAH, THESE WE DO NEED THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN, THEN YOU HAVE TO MITIGATE FOR IT FOR VERY SIMPLE REASONS CALLED THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND.
EVERY SQUARE FOOT OF CONCRETE GENERATES HEAT.
AND NOT JUST FOR THE TRAIL USERS, IT'S FOR RESIDENTS.
IN EAST AUSTIN, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE ALREADY UP TO IN A 2.7 DEGREES IN DOWNTOWN, 10 DEGREES ON SOME OVER COUNTYWIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
EVERY SQUARE FOOT ADDS TO THAT.
WE JUST FINISHED A TRAIL OR ABOUT TO FINISH FROM WALNUT CREEK TO MAYNARD THAT ADDED 4.52 ACRES OF CONCRETE.
IT MAY BE THE RIGHT IDEA AND IT ALREADY MAY BE MITIGATED FOR OUT BY DECKER LAKE.
IT THE SAME IS TRUE DOWNTOWN, WHERE WE'RE CRITICALLY DEPENDENT ON LADY BIRD LAKE, THE RIPARIAN BUFFER AND ZILKER PARK TO HELP, UH, HELP AMELIORATE THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND WITHIN THE CORE.
WE NEED DATA BEFORE THESE DECISIONS CAN BE MADE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ROBIN RATHER FOLLOWED BY TANYA PAYNE.
AND THEN AFTER TANYA WILL BE GAIL ROTH.
UH, GOOD EVENING PARKS, PARKS, BOARD AND CHAIR.
I WANNA START OFF, UH, WITH SOMETHING THAT I HOPE WILL LIFT YOU UP.
IT'S SO PERFECT THAT THIS ITEM IS FOLLOWING THAT WONDERFUL NATURE TEAM THAT'S EDUCATING OUR OUR CHILDREN.
THE MATTER BEFORE YOU ABOUT BUTLER TRAIL IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
[00:50:01]
I WAS READING LAST NIGHT THAT IN SOME NATIVE INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES, THE WORD FOR SOIL TRANSLATES TO WHO WE USED TO BE.FOR MOST OF HUMAN HISTORY, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMANS AND NATURE WAS SACROSANCT.
BUT HERE IN AUSTIN, WE HAVE BECOME WAY TOO DISCONNECTED FROM NATURE.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS BEARING DOWN ON US.
THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT THAT TED TALKED ABOUT, FLOODING, LOSS OF TREE CANOPY, LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY.
HEADLINES TODAY ARE ABOUT DROUGHT, RUNNING OUT OF WATER AND WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
THIS IS NO TIME AT ALL TO BE EVEN TALKING ABOUT RELAXING OUR STANDARDS.
WE CANNOT KEEP PUTTING COMMERCIAL INTERESTS, PARKING GARAGES AND CONCRETE AHEAD OF OUR OWN SURVIVAL.
THERE'S NO DEBATE ABOUT THAT OUR KIDS' LIVES.
THE KIDS WE'VE BEEN APPLAUDING TONIGHT AND THESE INCREDIBLE EDUCATORS, THEIR LIVES ARE ON THE LINE.
WE CANNOT BE FOOLING AROUND LIKE THIS.
YOU HAVE A CHANCE TONIGHT TO PROTECT THIS ESSENTIAL CONNECTION.
YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING FOR CLIMATE.
YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO ACT IN ALIGNMENT WITH AUSTIN'S ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY, PARK LOVERS, RUNNERS, AND THOSE WHO HAVEN'T LOST THEIR CONNECTION AND ARE TRYING, LIKE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN PROTECTED AND CONNECTED TO NATURE.
THE 10 MILES OF THE BUTLER TRAIL IS IN THE CRITICAL WATER PROTECTION ZONE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT'S CRITICAL.
IT MEANS DON'T CHANGE IT, DON'T DAMAGE IT, DON'T POLLUTE IT.
IT MEANS DON'T PAVE IT WITH CONCRETE.
AND IT ALSO MEANS, IF YOU DON'T MIND MY SAYING THIS, DON'T MESS WITH OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE PERHAPS THE, THE MOST DIFFICULT AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN TOWN WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE POLICE IN EMS. WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE OUR WATER'S CLEAN AND WE DON'T RUN OUT OF IT.
WE SHOULDN'T BE UNDERMINING THEM WITH REQUESTS FROM QUESTIONABLE STAKEHOLDERS WITH QUESTIONABLE MOTIVES, ASKING THEM TO EXEMPT THE CITY FROM ITS OWN RULES.
THAT IS NOT FAIR TO THE STAFF.
AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT RIGHT FOR THE WATER.
IT'S NOT RIGHT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THESE ARE OUR SPECIFIC ASKS.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY CHANGE TO THE TRAIL, IF IT'S REALLY NECESSARY, HAS MITIGATION AND THAT MITIGATION'S AT LEAST TWO TO ONE.
PLEASE MAKE SURE USE CONCRETE OR ASPHALT.
PROTECT THE WATER, PROTECT THE TRAIL, SAVE IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE TANYA PAYNE, FOLLOWED BY GAIL ROTH.
AFTER GAIL WILL BE TERRY ADAMS. OH, I ACTUALLY GOT MOST OF MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED,
I WAS, UH, CONCERNED AND HAD ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS AND WHY, UH, THERE WAS CHANGES IN LANGUAGE BETWEEN THE, UM, RESTORATION AND MITIGATION.
BUT A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED.
AND SO TODAY I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN, I LOVE THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO AUSTIN ALMOST 29 YEARS AGO AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE ADJUSTING, I WOULD FREQUENTLY SAY THE ONLY THING I LIKE ABOUT AUSTIN IS THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
TODAY I CONTINUE TO LOVE THE CRUSH GRANITE SURFACE AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU PART FOOT MENTIONED IN A CITY DOCUMENT AND ALSO BY THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY DOCUMENTS WOULD BE GREAT.
IF YOU WANNA GO SMALLER, THAT'D BE OKAY TOO.
IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE A FREEWAY
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT DEPENDING ON WHICH ONE YOU WERE ON, WHAT VERSION YOU SEE.
BUT MAKE SURE THE ONE THAT YOU VOTE FOR HAS THE TWO TO ONE.
AND THEN ALSO REQUEST SURFACES BE SOMETHING NATURAL AND NOT CONCRETE OR ASPHALT.
YOU COULD ADD THAT PROTECTION AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY NICE MOVE FOR AUSTIN.
SO PLEASE FOCUS ON PROTECTING OUR PARK TRAIL, OUR RIPARIAN AREAS, AND OUR WATERWAYS INSTEAD OF FLEXIBILITY
[00:55:01]
FOR DEVELOPMENT.OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE GAIL ROTH, FOLLOWED BY TERRY ADAMS. AFTER TERRY WILL BE BOBBY LEBINSKI.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO ALL OF YOU WHO GOT MORE THAN ONE COPY OF MY LETTER THIS MORNING.
I HAD A LITTLE ALTERCATION WITH MY COMPUTER
UM, I AM, AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME WITH THESE AMENDMENTS, I HAVE TO SAY I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED.
I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT'S INTENDED BY THE AMENDMENTS AND I'M ALSO REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL, THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF, UH, THESE AMENDMENTS.
UM, SO I'VE TRIED TO STEP BACK AND JUST FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF HIGH LEVEL THINGS THAT I THINK I STARTED OFF WITH.
AND ONE OF THEM WAS A SENTENCE I FOUND IN THE BUTLER TRAIL PMA.
IT STATES THAT THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS A NONPROFIT 5 0 1 C3 EXEMPT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTER OF THE PARK.
I THINK THAT MEANS THE PRESERVATION, THE RESTORATION, AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SAFETY ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S EROSION OR WHETHER IT'S CHOKE POINTS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT I I IT FEELS LIKE THAT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING THESE VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUES, SHOULD BE MINIMALLY EVAS INVASIVE ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TONIGHT TO ENSURE THAT THESE, UH, THESE AMENDMENTS ALIGN WITH THAT VISION THAT PRIORITIZES THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE TERRY ADAMS, FOLLOWED BY BOBBY LEVINSKY.
I AM TERRY ADAMS AND I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF TONIGHT.
UM, THE I CAN BIKE TRAIL AROUND TOWN LAKE LADY BIRD LAKE, THE BUTLER TRAIL.
UM, IT HAS GOD TIER STATUS IN AUSTIN.
THIS IS NOT GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE EASY TO CHANGE, EVEN IF SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY CAN CHANGE IT THROUGH A BUREAUCRATIC MOVE THAT LOOKS INNOCUOUS.
IF THAT WERE TRUE, THEN THEY WOULD NOT HAVE SCHEDULED IT TO BE HEARD BY Y'ALL TONIGHT, BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION TOMORROW.
AND THEN COUNSEL ON THURSDAY, WHICH I HEARD WAS GONNA BE PUSHED TO THE 7TH OF MARCH.
UM, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THINGS THAT FAST WHEN YOU'RE DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY WHEN YOU'RE DOING THINGS IN THE LIGHT OF DAY.
BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS SUCH A PRECIOUS ASSET PUBLIC ASSET FOR ALL OF AUSTIN, THERE ARE JUST A FEW PEOPLE WHO REALLY HAVE SAY IN WHAT THE PLANS ARE GONNA BE FOR THE BUTLER TRAIL.
AND THAT IS WHY IT IS A PROBLEM TO HAVE LARGE NONPROFITS ACTING AS THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY, THEY THE ROLE OF A CONTRACTOR, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BID FOR THEIR CONTRACTS.
IT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, I SEE MOSTLY REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, REAL ESTATE LAW, MOSTLY NOT ALL, BUT A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE VERY INVESTED IN THE GROWTH OF AUSTIN.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING THAT UM, I CAN DO PERSONALLY TO STOP THE GROWTH OF AUSTIN, BUT I WILL PROTECT THIS TRAIL.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN.
WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TO PROTECT IT.
AND IF THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE NO LONGER THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE, THEN I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
I THINK WE NEED TO STOP BEING THE PATH.
YOU ARE IN THE POSITION OF REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC.
THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS A BUSINESS.
THEY MEET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND THEY HAVE THEIR INTEREST THAT THEY ARE PROMOTING.
SO THEIR INTEREST DOES NOT NECESSARILY ALIGN WITH THE PUBLIC.
I WANNA HEAR WHAT THE WALKERS, WHAT THE JOGGERS SAY.
UM, IT'S NOT GREAT FOR BIKING.
I'VE USED IT AS A BIKER, AS A RUNNER, UM, AS A WALKER.
[01:00:01]
AND UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE NEED TO HAVE A COMMUTER TYPE, UM, CORRIDOR FOR BIKES, THEN I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE MORE OF LIKE A ROAD THING.AND THE TRAIL IS A NATURE TRAIL.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE BOBBY LAVINSKY, FOLLOWED BY MARK MAY.
I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH THE STATE OF OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
NORMALLY I LIKE TO TRY TO FIND WHERE WE CAN ALL AGREE ON SOMETHING ON THESE AMENDMENTS.
THEY'RE JUST ANNOYINGLY UNNECESSARY.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST PROVISION, COUNCIL ALREADY RETAINS THE ABILITY TO APPROVE A TRAIL LARGER THAN 12 FEET.
IF IT'S APPROVED AS PART OF A PLAN, WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THOSE PLANS.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR THAT CODE AMENDMENT.
THE OTHER TWO CODE AMENDMENTS ARE REMOVING ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
OUR RIPARIAN ZONE THAT IS CRITICAL FOR WATER QUALITY.
IT HELPS FILTER OUT POLLUTANTS NATURALLY AND PROTECTS OUR WATER QUALITY LADY BIRD LAKE IS SUFFERING.
NOW I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT, I WANT, IT'S HARD.
I, SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS ARE ANNOYING BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO VISUALIZE.
OH THIS IS, THIS IS 12 FEET ALLOWED.
WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL COUNCIL APPROVAL, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND STEP MYSELF BACK TO REACH 20 FEET, WHICH IS THE COMPROMISE SOLUTION.
IN WHAT WORLD IS THE 20 FOOT TRAIL NEEDED ALONG LADY BIRD LAKE? IT MAKES NO SENSE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MARK MAY FOLLOWED BY BILL BUNCH.
AFTER BILL WILL BE ASHLEY FISHER.
MARK MAY WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I'M FROM, UH, D FIVE AND THAT, UH, 20 FEET WAS BIG
UM, ANYWAY, I'VE HEARD, UH, SOME, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, PAVING THE TRAIL AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A CRAZY TALK.
SO I DID SOME WORK AT WORK TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, WELL, WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? AND SO I FOUND SOME STUFF THAT I THOUGHT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU 'CAUSE IT WAS FAIRLY, FAIRLY SHOCKING.
SO THE, A CITY DEFINES URBAN TRAILS AS WIDE, AS WIDE PAVED, SHARED USE, UH, TRAILS.
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT, UH, THE BUTLER TRAIL IS EITHER A TIER ONE URBAN TRAIL OR A TIER TWO URBAN TRAIL.
SO IF YOU KEEP ON GOING DOWN, YOU SEE THAT OUR URBAN TRAIL AGAIN, IN CASE THEY DIDN'T GET IT CLEARLY SAID THE FIRST TIME IS A WIDE PAVED, UH, TRAIL.
AND THEY SHOW YOU A PICTURE JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
THIS IS SHO, UH, CREEK AROUND I THINK 24TH, UH, STREET.
SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S PAVED, OBVIOUSLY OPTIMIZED FOR, UH, COMMUTING.
SO WHY IS BUTLER AN URBAN TRAIL AND NOT A PARK TRAIL? IF YOU LOOK AT THE URBAN TRAIL TRAIL PLAN, I GOT SOME LINKS FROM SOME FOLKS, UH, TODAY.
AND UM, THERE'S SOME PICTURES HERE AND URBAN TRAIL OF, OF WHAT AN URBAN TRAIL CAN BE IN AUSTIN.
YOU AND YOU LOOK AT ALL FIVE OF THOSE ARE PAVED.
I THOUGHT THE ONE IN THE LOWER LEFT, SURELY THE CAPTION'S GONNA READ, UH, THE BUTLER TRAIL IS ALSO OUR URBAN TRAIL.
NOPE, IT SAYS A PAVED TRAIL THROUGH NATURE.
THAT'S WHAT BUTLER TRAIL IS ACCORDING TO THE CITY.
NOW GO OVER AND YOU'LL AT PARKS TRAIL.
SO WHAT'S A, WHAT'S A PARK TRAIL? WHAT CAN HAVE A A, A VARIETY OF UH, SURFACE TYPES.
AND THE PRIMARY GOAL IS OF RECREATION.
WELL THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE BUTLER TRAIL.
SOME PARK TRAILS MAY SERVE AS SERVE AS URBAN TRAILS IF THEY'RE WIDE PAVED.
WHAT? SO THE CITY IS DEFINING A NEW USE CASE FOR THE BUTLER TRAIL.
[01:05:03]
AND THEN YOU DIG AROUND SOME MORE AND WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T REALLY HEAR ABOUT THIS MUCH IN THE STAFF, UH, PRESENTATION, BUT THERE'S LARGE CHANGES COMING TO FROM 2, 2, 2 OF THE TRAIL.IF YOU LOOK AT JUST THE SOUTHWEST, UH, QUADRANT WHERE THERE IS SOME OF OTHER DETAIL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOUBLE, DOUBLE BOARDWALKS, DOUBLE WIDTH TRAILS.
UM, THEY'RE BASICALLY LOOKS LIKE THEY WANT TO CREATE LIKE A BICYCLE FREEWAY THROUGH PART OF THE PARK.
NOW WHY DOES THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY WANT TO EXPAND BEYOND A TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND BECOME LIKE A MOBILITY, UH, SOLUTION COMPANY? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SO I THINK THERE'S SOME GOOD REASONS TO BE NERVOUS AND CAREFUL WITH YOUR VOTE.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU DO IS REDEFINE THE BUTLER TRAILS OF PARK TRAIL.
THIS IS WHAT THE TRAIL, INCLUDING TTC, I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE YOU'VE HEARD FROM OTHER FOLKS, THIS IS IMPORTANT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE BILL BUNCH.
AFTER BILL WILL BE ASHLEY FISHER AND THEN MIKE KANATI.
AND, AND JUST AS A HEADS UP, I HAVE GOTTEN SOME PEOPLE TO TEXT ME THAT THE AUDIO IS KIND OF MESSING UP.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN A TXN ISSUE OR WHAT, BUT GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M BILL BUNCH, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ATTORNEY AT SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
I'VE BEEN WALKING, JOGGING, WRITING MY SORT OF HYBRID CITY RECREATIONAL BIKE BIRD WATCHING LOUNGING ALONG THE TRAIL FOR 40 YEARS.
UM, THE, THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU REALLY SHOULD START WITH ARE WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAIL AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THESE AMENDMENTS? UM, I THINK OVERWHELMINGLY PEOPLE FAVOR THAT THE TRAIL IS A NATURE TRAIL ALONG THE PARK.
THAT'S WHAT LADY BIRD JOHNSON HAD IN MIND.
ROBERTA CRENSHAW, MARY ARNOLD, YOU KNOW, 50 YEARS OF CONSERVATION EFFORT VIEWED THIS AS A RECREATIONAL NATURE TRAIL, NOT A PAVE TRAIL AROUND THE LAKE IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY.
UH, WE SHOULD BE, UH, PULLING UP PAVEMENT AS YOUR JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE'S LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
AND THE DISCONNECT HERE IS OFF THE CHARTS, TALKING ABOUT MAKING IT EASIER TO PAVE THE TRAIL, EXPAND IT, MAKE IT BIGGER WHILE YOUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE'S ASKING A QUESTION, WHERE CAN WE BE PULLING UP PAVEMENT BECAUSE OF URBAN HEAT ISLAND, BECAUSE OF CARBON CAPTURE THAT WE NEED FROM MORE TREES AND MORE GREEN SPACE.
UM, SO THIS IS TOTALLY ANATHEMA AND OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAIL IS.
WHAT ARE THE PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENTS? NOW THE BACKUP SAYS FOR CAPITAL TO ACCOMMODATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, WHAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS? NONE OF 'EM ARE BEING TOLD.
WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD WHAT THAT IS.
THE OTHER THING, NEXT THING IT SAYS IS FOR EROSION.
WELL, THE WAY YOU MAKE EROSION WORSE IS YOU EXPAND THE TRAIL AND YOU PAVE IT BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE TONS MORE RAINFALL TO GET TO RUSH OFF ONTO THE SIDE.
THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, WATERSHED PROTECTION PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS DONE LITERALLY NOTHING FOR FIVE, SIX YEARS ON THOSE HUGE WASHOUT EROSION SPOTS ON THE TRAIL ON BOTH SIDES OF BARTON CREEK.
IF YOU EVER WALK OUT THERE, YOU'VE SEEN 'EM, THIS IS SHAMEFUL TRACK RECORD, THERE'S NO CONCERN ABOUT EROSION.
AND THIS WOULD MAKE EROSION WORSE.
THE NEXT THING THEY SAY IS SAFETY.
WELL, AGAIN, YOU WIDEN THE TRAIL, YOU PAVE IT.
YOU'RE TALKING NOW ABOUT HIGH SPEED BICYCLE COMMUTE COMMUTERS CONFLICTING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING, WALKING THEIR DOGS, JOGGING, RIDING RECREATIONALLY AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE.
THAT'S, THAT'S A SAFETY DISASTER.
AS MR. LAVINSKY SAID, THE COUNCIL HAS FULL AUTHORITY AND A PUBLIC PROCESS TO GRANT A WAIVER WHERE IT'S JUSTIFIED TO GO LARGER THAN 12 FEET.
WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING ANY OF THIS.
THIS IS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR URBAN HEAT ISLAND ON WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE PLANNING WAS DONE AGO, AND IT WASN'T RIGHT IN HER FACE LIKE IT IS NOW.
OUR, OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ASHLEY FISHER.
AFTER ASHLEY WILL BE MIKE KANATI.
GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY IS PROUD TO BE A PARTNER OF THE CITY TO PROTECT, ENHANCE, AND CONNECT THE ANNE AND ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
[01:10:01]
THE BENEFIT OF ALL, WE SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDED CODE AMENDMENT.THESE CODE AMENDMENTS EARNED RESPONSE TO A RESOLUTION THAT CITY COUNCIL PASSED LAST SPRING.
THEY'LL HELP BRING THE CURRENT TRAIL ALIGNMENT AND WIDTH INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CITY CODE AND WILL ALLOW THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TO CONTINUE WITH TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AS OUTLINED IN THE 2021 SAFETY AND MOBILITY PLAN.
THESE INCLUDE THINGS LIKE STORMWATER UPGRADES, TRAILHEAD CONNECTIONS, SAFETY LIGHTING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE, IN THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY PLAN.
UM, TTCS FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MIKE KANATI, AND AFTER THAT WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER, AL GODFREY.
IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY, I MUST BE GETTING REALLY OLD BECAUSE I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE TRAIL EVEN LONGER THAN BILL
UH, I WANTED TO RELATE A COUPLE OF ANECDOTES ABOUT THE TRAIL THAT I RECENTLY DISCOVERED.
UM, ONE WAS ACTUALLY NOT THAT RECENT.
IT WAS IN 2007 AND I WAS DOWN THERE WHEN IT WAS CALLED TOWN LAKE AND ACTUALLY MET LADY BIRD WHO WAS BEING ROLLED AROUND BY LUCY ON THE TRAIL.
AND IT, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE CONNECTION OF LADY BIRD TO THE NAME OF THE LAKE.
UH, MORE RECENTLY, THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WENT DOWN THERE FOR A JOG.
I'M TRYING TO TAKE UP RUNNING IN MY LATE LIFE, AND I WAS AMAZED AT HOW CROWDED THE PLACE WAS.
I MEAN, THE TRAILS ARE BIGGER, THERE'S MORE PEOPLE, THERE'S A TON OF DUST GOING EVERYWHERE.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC DOWN THERE.
UM, I ALSO RIDE MY BIKE AROUND THE TRAIL AND I'VE NOTICED SOME OF THE KEY PARTS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF EROSION, ESPECIALLY WHERE IT'S NARROW OVER THERE BY THE HYATT, I THINK ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
UM, AND THE OTHER ANECDOTE I WOULD RELATE IS THAT I SAW A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WERE WORKING DOWN FROM THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, DOING SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL PLANTINGS AROUND ONE OF THE LITTLE TURNABOUTS THAT THEY PUT IN RIGHT IN FRONT OF AUSTIN HIGH.
UM, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK PARTNERING WITH THE CITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE, THE TRAIL.
THEY HAVEN'T PAVED ANYTHING THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED TO, AND I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE AN EROSION OR SOMETHING, THE BRIDGE IS FALLING OFF.
MAYBE THAT'S WHERE ANY KIND OF REPAIRS THAT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT WOULD BE DONE.
BUT THEY HAVE KEPT THE REST OF THE TRAIL AS, UH, AS IT WAS INTENDED TO BE CRUSH GRANITE.
UM, THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF THE TRAIL, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR MS. RODDY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOME REQUIRE SOME ATTENTION AND SOME REPAIRS.
PROBABLY THAT LITTLE NARROW SECTION RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HYATT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE WHERE YOU ACTUALLY DO PAVE IT SO THAT IT DOESN'T WASH OFF INTO THE WATER, BUT THE REST OF THE TRAIL SHOULD BE KEPT LIKE IT IS.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR SOMEHOW THAT THE ENTIRE TRAIL IS GONNA BE PAVED.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PROPOSALS ARE, ARE ADVOCATING FOR, AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY AND THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY WANTS TO KEEP THE NATURE EXPERIENCE THAT, THAT PEOPLE LOVE.
UM, I GUESS I WOULD POINT LASTLY TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION'S ENDORSEMENT OF, UH, AT LEAST WHAT WAS PROPOSED, I THINK IN DECEMBER.
UH, THEY, THEY RECOGNIZE THERE'S A TRADE OFF HERE BETWEEN THE, THE USE AND THE REPAIRS AND THE NATURE ASPECT.
AND I COMMEND THEIR RESOLUTION TO YOU AS WELL.
OUR LAST SPEAKER WILL BE AL GODFREY.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATION FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.
GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M KATIE COYNE, I USE SHE HER PRONOUNS.
I AM YOUR CITY OF AUSTIN ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER, ALSO AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT OVER OUR PLANNING, MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE BRANCH.
UH, I WANTED TO DO TWO THINGS REALLY QUICKLY BEFORE I HAND IT OFF TO OUR, OUR BRILLIANT STAFF FROM WATERSHED PROTECTION.
ONE, TAKE THE LIBERTY TO SAY HELLO.
I DON'T GET A LOT OF FACE TIME WITH Y'ALL.
I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT I EXIST.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, CONCERNS, IDEAS, ANYTHING Y'ALL NEED, I I WANT TO BE ACCESSIBLE, UH, TO, TO ALL OF YOU AS WELL AS THE MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ADVOCATES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS.
MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BALANCING GOALS IN A CITY.
UH, URBAN NATURE IS A DIFFICULT BALANCE.
UM, AND SO SECOND, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT GOT US TO THIS POINT AND JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW KEY THINGS BEFORE I HAND IT OFF TO STAFF WHO WILL GET INTO MORE DETAIL.
UH, FIRST I JUST WANNA SAY THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN EVOLVING.
YOU'VE SEEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGE IN YOUR BACKUP THAN WHAT WE PRESENTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND CODES AND ORDINANCES JOINT COMMITTEE THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF AN EVOLVING PROCESS, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR SURE.
UM, AS OF THE MEETINGS IN 2023, WHICH WAS CODES AND ORDINANCES, JOINT COMMITTEE AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UM, WE HAD NOT RECEIVED, UH, SOME FEEDBACK THAT WE BEGAN TO RECEIVE EARLY ON IN 2024 THAT LED TO EVOLVING SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS CLEAR.
THE INTENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO OFFER MORE CLARITY AND SURETY TO OUR PARTNERS WHO TAKE CARE OF THIS TRAIL
[01:15:01]
SYSTEM ABOUT WHAT KIND OF RESTORATION THAT WE WOULD EXPECT THAT BALANCES ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WITH THE MANY OTHER GOALS OF A SYSTEM LIKE THIS.SO, JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS.
THERE'S KIND OF THREE KEY PIECES OF WHAT HAS CHANGED OR, OR WHAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CHANGING THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE APPLIED TO THE ENTIRETY OF THE LAKE.
WE'VE LIMITED THAT, WHICH I SEE AS, AS A GOOD THING TO ONLY THE BUTLER TRAIL.
SO PREVIOUSLY THIS COULD HAVE APPLIED ANYWHERE, EVEN WHERE BUTLER TRAIL DOESN'T EXIST, SO NOW IT'S JUST LIMITED TO THE TRAIL.
NUMBER TWO, WE'VE ADDED A LITTLE MORE CLARITY TO WHAT KIND OF MITIGATION AND THE RANGE OF MITIGATION THAT WE WOULD REQUIRE.
WE HAD INITIALLY HAD TWO TO ONE.
WE HAVE A RANGE OF ONE TO ONE, TO TWO TO ONE ESSENTIALLY THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED BASED ON THE CONTEXT.
WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED THAT LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY.
THAT'S WHY IN INITIAL LANGUAGE WE SAID WE, WE MIGHT BE OPEN TO ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE PER DIRECTOR GUIDANCE, UH, BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE PLACES WHERE CONTEXT DICTATES OR LIMITATIONS DICTATE THAT TWO TO ONE IS NOT POSSIBLE OR NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE OR COULD ASK FOR.
SO THAT FLEXIBILITY IS SOMETHING THAT WE SUPPORT.
THREE, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S REFLECTIVE IN YOUR LANGUAGE, BUT IS SOMETHING WE'RE CERTAINLY WILLING TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UH, IS LIMITING THE WIDTH.
UH, AND SO CERTAINLY WANT TO HEAR MORE FEEDBACK FROM Y'ALL TONIGHT.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'VE, UH, REFLECTED IN CURRENT LANGUAGE, UM, BUT WOULD LOVE TO TO HEAR MORE FEEDBACK FROM Y'ALL AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS PROCESS.
THAT LANGUAGE THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED OVER TIME AND EVOLVED IS A COMBINATION OF FEEDBACK FROM OUR LAW DEPARTMENT.
THEY HELP US MAKE SURE THAT THE INTENTION OF LANGUAGE IS ACTUALLY CAPTURED IN THE WAY WE CAN USE THAT LANGUAGE TO APPLY POLICY IN THE FUTURE, AS WELL AS COUNCIL OFFICES, UH, PARTICULARLY DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, WHICH IS THE INITIATING COUNCIL OFFICE AND DISTRICT SEVEN WHO HAVE PROVIDED FEEDBACK SINCE REALLY THE NEW YEAR, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WELL WITH OUR PARTNERS IN BALANCING GOALS.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT OFFERS A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.
I'LL HAND IT OFF NOW TO LESLIE LILLY.
GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS AND CHAIR.
MY NAME IS LESLIE LILLY, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION, AND TONIGHT I WILL BE DISCUSSING THE BUTLER TRAIL CODE AMENDMENT.
UM, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE BUTLER TRAIL SYSTEM.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED OR BEGAN CONSTRUCTION IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES, AND AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE NOT THE SAME RESTRICTIONS TO THE, UH, CREEK SETBACKS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
AND AS A PART OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION ORDINANCE, UH, THERE WERE RESTRICTIONS TO THE WAY THAT TRAILS COULD BE BUILT WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
AND THAT WAS FURTHER CLARIFIED IN 2017 WITH RESTRICTIONS DESCRIBING, UH, THE WAY THAT TRAILS COULD BE BUILT WITHIN OR NOT BUILT WITHIN THE 50 FOOT SETBACK OF LADY BIRD LAKE.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO, I KNOW A LOT OF SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED THIS THIS EVENING, THE LEVEL OF USE AND THE HIGH TRAFFIC THAT THIS TRAIL RECEIVES ACCORDING TO THE TRAIL COUNTERS THAT, UH, ACCUMULATE ALL OF THE DATA FOR USERS ON THE TRAIL.
THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION VISITS ANNUALLY FOR THE TRAIL.
UM, SO AS KATIE MENTIONED, THIS PARTICULAR CODE AMENDMENT, WHY ARE WE BRINGING THIS FORWARD? IT WAS INITIATED AS, UH, WITH AT CITY COUNCIL LAST SPRING ON MAY 18TH.
AND AS A PART OF THAT RESOLUTION, THE INITIATING, UH, RESOLUTION DIRECTED CITY STAFF TO LOOK AT THESE THREE VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS THAT GUIDE THE WORK THAT THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY DOES TO, UH, PROVIDE IMPROVEMENTS TO NOT ONLY THE TRAIL, BUT RESTORE AND ENHANCE THE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF THE SURROUNDING NATURAL AREAS.
AND THOSE THREE DOCUMENTS ARE THE BUTLER TRAIL, URBAN FORESTRY AND NATURAL MAN NATURAL AREA MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES.
UH, AND THEN THE MAINTENANCE STANDARDS IN THE BUTLER TRAIL PARK OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT.
AND THEN LASTLY, THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED TONIGHT.
SO I WANNA DIG IN A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO WHAT THOSE PARTICULAR DOCUMENTS DESCRIBE AND GIVE DIRECTION TOWARDS CITY STAFF FOR DEVELOPING THIS CODE AMENDMENT.
SO THE URBAN FORESTRY AND NATURAL AREA MANAGEMENT GUIDELINE WAS DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH CITY STAFF, INCLUDING WATERSHED PROTECTION STAFF AND PARD STAFF.
AND IT DESCRIBES THE ECOLOGY OF THE NATURAL AREAS AROUND THE TRAIL AND THOSE CONDITIONS THAT IMPACT THE FUNCTION OF THOSE NATURAL AREAS.
AND THEN THE TRAIL ITSELF, INCLUDING EROSIVE CONVEYANCE OF DRAINAGE THAT MAY BE, UH, DRAINS THROUGH THE PARKLAND OR INVASIVE SPECIES IN THOSE NATURAL AREAS, OR THE IMPACT FROM USERS IN NATURAL AREAS.
THERE ARE SOME HIGH LEVEL GUIDELINES, UH, LISTED
[01:20:01]
IN THAT THAT WAS A PART OF OUR RECOMMENDATION IN DESCRIBING THE RESTORATION THAT WE ARE, UH, PROPOSING AS A PART OF THE IMPACT, UM, FOR ANY, ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRAIL.ADDITIONALLY, THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY, AS I MENTIONED, WAS A, A KIND OF GUIDELINE ON CONSIDERING THE WIDTH OF THE TRAIL.
ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY, UH, COMMENTED ON WAS THAT TRAILS UNDER 12 FEET IN WIDTH WERE CAUSING PROBLEMS AND THAT ANY SECTION OF TRAIL ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUTLER TRAIL SYSTEM NEEDED SOME SOLUTION.
IT DIDN'T GIVE GUIDANCE ON EXPANDING OR CHANGING THE SURFACE, BUT IT DID INDICATE THAT BASED ON, UH, BOTH OBSERVING USERS INFORMATION FROM USERS ON, UH, ONLINE SURVEYS AND OTHER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THAT THE WIDTH OF THE TRAIL WHEN IT WAS LESS THAN 12 FEET, CREATED CONFLICTS THAT WERE GENERATING ISSUES WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF USERS USING THE TRAIL.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ANYTHING LESS THAN 12 FEET WAS CAUSING THAT IS IN NEED OF A SOLUTION.
LASTLY, THE PARKLAND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT IS JUST AN OBLIGATION AND A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY AND THE CITY TO THAT OBLIGES THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE COMMITMENT TO, UH, MAINTAIN THE NATURAL AREAS, PROVIDE RESTORATION, PROVIDE OTHER IMPORTANT SERVICES, AND PROVIDE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT, UM, THAT THEY ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO PROVIDE AND, AND GIVE TO THE PUBLIC.
SO JUST TO BRING SOME CONTEXT INTO THE ENTIRE SITE, THE BUTLER TRAIL SYSTEM EXTENDS IN THE WEST FROM MOPAC ALONG THE NORTH AND SOUTH SHORE OF LADY BIRD LAKE ALL THE WAY TO LONGHORN SHORES.
THE ENTIRETY OF THE TRAIL IS IN THE 500 YEAR FLOODPLAIN, AND 85% OF THE TRAIL AS IT EXISTS TODAY IS IN THE 50 FOOT SETBACK.
SO THE EXISTING TRAIL IS SIGNIFICANTLY NON-COMPLIANT.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE, UM, CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES INCLUDING WETLANDS SPRINGS AND RIM ROCKS, AND WE ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF THE VERY NA SENSITIVE NATURE OF THE FEATURES THAT THE TRAIL RUNS THROUGH.
SO I WANT TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND THEN GO INTO THE LANGUAGE THAT IS PROVIDED IN THE RED LINE.
THE FIRST PART OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS, AND, AND ALL THREE SECTIONS OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THIS ARE TWO, ONE SECTION OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE 25 8 2 61 AS IT RELATES TO DEVELOPMENT IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
AND THIS PARTICULAR SECTION 25 82 61 B THREE C DESCRIBES THE, UH, THE WIDTH THAT IS REQUIRED FOR TRAILS IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
AND THIS RECOMMENDATION COMES SPECIFICALLY FROM RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY, WHICH STAFF WERE DIRECTED TO USE IN OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM CITY COUNCIL.
RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO ADMINISTRATIVE VARIANCE THAT THE, UH, THE, THAT SOMEBODY DOING A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT COULD USE TO GO IN AND IMPROVE THE TRAIL.
AND IT'S NOT SAYING THAT THE TRAIL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO WIDTHS BEYOND 12 FEET.
IT'S SIMPLY SAYING IF A SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT WERE TO COME IN TO, UH, IMPROVE ANY SECTION OF TRAIL IN EXCESS OF 12 FEET, THAT PROJECT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCE.
SO WE ARE INCLUDING THAT IN OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO MAKE THAT, UH, THAT ELEMENT OF THE TRAIL COMPLIANT WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
AND AS KATIE MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST 24 HOURS DISCUSSING CONCERNS ABOUT A MAXIMUM WIDTH.
I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SECTIONS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST TODAY THAT ARE WELL BEYOND, UH, THE PROPO.
I MEAN THE CODE COMPLIANT 12 FOOT WIDTH AND EXCEED EVEN IN MANY PLACES 20 FEET.
SO THERE IS A LOT, I MEAN, YOU SAW HOW BIG 20 FEET IS, THAT'S THE EXISTING TRAIL TODAY AND YOU KNOW, IT GETS USED TO THAT WIDTH BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE AND IT ACCOMMODATES QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE SECOND PART OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS TO 25 8, 2 61 B THREE F THROUGH G AS IT RELATES TO THE 50 FOOT SETBACK.
THIS LANGUAGE RIGHT HERE DESCRIBES THE RESTORATION PROVIDED.
NOW I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE WORD RESTORATION IS A VERY SPECIFIC DEFINITION THAT WE USE FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL THAT IS USED TO DESCRIBE FLOODPLAIN HEALTH AND THE
[01:25:01]
IMPROVEMENT OF FLOODPLAIN HEALTH.THE WAY THAT FLOODPLAIN HEALTH IS ASSESSED IS THROUGH A SERIES OF CRITERIA THAT LOOK AT THE CANOPY, THAT LOOK AT UNDERSTORY VEGETATION, SOIL COMPACTION, ET CETERA.
AND THOSE VARIABLES ARE, ARE USED TO ASSESS FLOODPLAIN HEALTH.
AND THAT THEN CREATES A PLAN FOR HOW RESTORATION IS DONE AND WHAT RESTORATION PRACTICES ARE USED TO BRING UP THE FUNCTIONAL, UH, THE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF A SECTION OF AREA THAT'S PROPOSED IN, UH, IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
SO AS KATIE ALSO MENTIONED, THERE'S, THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE LANGUAGE FROM A BASELINE OF TWO TO ONE UP TO, UH, A BASELINE OF ONE TO ONE, UP TO TWO TO ONE IF YOU'VE EVER VISITED THE TRAIL.
THERE ARE SOME VERY, VERY CONSTRAINED AREAS.
AND WHEN YOU ARE, UH, PLANNING FOR RESTORING OR MITIGATING FOR IMPACT TO AN AREA WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE, IT'S IDEAL TO HAVE THE RESTORATION ON SITE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS THAT ARE SO PHYSICALLY CONSTRAINED THAT ONSITE RESTORATION WOULD NOT PHYSICALLY FIT WITHIN THE LIMITS OF CONSTRUCTION.
SO AT A MINIMUM, WE ARE REQUESTING ONE-TO-ONE, BUT WE WILL ALWAYS STRIVE TO WORK TO ACHIEVE TWO TO ONE.
AND WE HAVE ALSO BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY ABOUT PROVIDING OFFSITE MITIGATION OR RESTORATION, RATHER, THAT PROVIDES THAT SAME LEVEL OF RESTORATION, JUST NOT WITHIN THE SAME BOUNDARIES OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT.
AND ADDITIONALLY, TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY, THE ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE THAT WE ARE DESCRIBING NOT ONLY INCLUDES OFFSITE RESTORATION OF UP TO TWO TO ONE, BUT OTHER INTERVENTIONS THAT INCLU IMPROVE WATER QUALITY THROUGH SAY GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, UM, AND OTHER INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE SITE CONSTRAINED AREAS THAT THE TRAIL SITS ON.
THE LAST PART OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT REQUIRING A DIS ADDITIONAL RESTORATION FOR SHORELINE DISTURBANCE AS DESCRIBED IN 25 8 2 61 C TWO.
THE REASON FOR THIS IS IT'S INCONSISTENT WITH THE WAY THAT WE DEFINE FLOODPLAIN UH, RESTORATION.
IT IS A SIMPLE, LIKE SMALL CALCULATION OF PLANTINGS AND IT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO REVEGETATE DISTURBED AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH DOCKS AND BULKHEADS AND LITTLE SHORELINE ACCESS.
AND IT DOES NOT EXTEND BEYOND 25 FEET AND IS AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED FOR CANOPY, THE NEED FOR SPECIFIC UNDERSTORY PLANTS AND AN INCREASE IN VEGETATION IN VERY SPECIFIC WAYS THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE FLOODPLAIN HEALTH BASED ON A, AN ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING CONDITIONS.
IT SIMPLY PROVIDES LIKE A NUMBER OF PLANTS AND ISN'T A PART OF THE WAY THAT WE CALCULATE FLOODPLAIN HEALTH AND IMPROVING THE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF AREAS WITHIN A FLOODPLAIN HEALTH.
SO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN AN ACTUAL RED LINE ORDINANCE AND WHAT THE LANGUAGE ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IS, UM, FOR THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED FOR 25 8 2 61 B THREE C AS IT RELATES TO THE 12 FOOT WIDTH, IS THAT LIMITED TO 12 FOOT WIDTH PLUS ONE FOOT SUB COMPACTED SUBGRADE? A LESS A WIDER TRAIL IS DESIGNATED IN A COUNCIL ADOPT PLAN, OR THE TRAIL IS PART OF THE ANNE AND ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL SYSTEM.
AS WE'VE MENTIONED, THE THE MAXIMUM WIDTH IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING WITH THIS GROUP AND WITH OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE INCORPORATING INPUT INTO THIS EVER EVOLVING PROCESS.
UM, BUT THE 12 FOOT WIDTH AS SHOWN BY THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE GUIDING OUR AMENDMENT AS DIRECTED BY COUNSEL, INDICATES THAT A 12 FOOT WIDTH IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO SERVE THE USERS OF THE TRAIL.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE 50 FOOT SETBACK IS WRITTEN IN, UH, IN THE WAY THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE, THAT THE TRAIL UNLESS NECESSARY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ANNEN ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL SYSTEM, UH, THE TRAIL WILL BE LOCATED NOT LESS THAN 50 FEET FROM THE SHORELINE AS DEFINED IN 25 8 92.
UNLESS RESTORATION IS PROVIDED AT A MINIMUM RATIO OF ONE TO ONE WITH THE OPTION THAT THE APPLICANT AND THE DIRECTOR COLLABORATE TO REACH UP TO TWO TO ONE AS DETERMINED BY A FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF FLOODPLAIN HEALTH OR ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECT BY THE DIRECTOR
[01:30:01]
IS PROVIDED.THAT IS THE FLEXIBILITY THAT I WAS DESCRIBING BEFORE.
AND THEN LASTLY, THE LAST ELEMENT OF OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT FOR DISTURBED AREAS WITHIN 25 FEET TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE NATIVE SHADE TREE AND ONE NATIVE UNDERSTORY TREE PER 500 SQUARE FEET OF DISTURBED AREA.
AS I MENTIONED, THE DISTURBED AREAS, THE, THE IDEA IS WE, WE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO MAXIMIZE DISTURBANCE, WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE A PERMITTING PATHWAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE, UH, USED TO GUIDE THIS PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENT.
AND WITHOUT HAVING SOME KIND OF PERMITTING PATHWAY, THOSE THINGS CAN'T, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCES OR OTHER THINGS.
AND WE ARE WANTING TO WORK WITH OUR, UH, PARTNER ORGANIZATION, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR PROVIDING RESTORATION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ON THE TRAIL THAT ARE REASONABLE AND THOUGHTFUL AND IMPROVE THE FLOODPLAIN HEALTH OF THE, UH, SURROUNDING NATURAL AREAS.
SO OUR STOCK RECOMMENDATION IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO ACCOMMODATE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS AND UPDATES TO THE BUTLER TRAIL FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO SAFETY AND MOBILITY.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL FOR THE CODE AMENDMENT AS PROPOSED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS THAT THE CURRENT TRAIL IS NON-COMPLIANT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS REGARDING LOCATION AND WIDTH WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE RESTORATION FOR IMPACTS TO THE INNER CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE OF LADYBIRD LAKE ONSITE AND AROUND THE TRAIL WILL HELP MAINTAIN AND RESTORE THE SIGNIFICANT ECOLOGICAL ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREA.
AND THE PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENT PROVIDES A PATHWAY FORWARD TO ALLOW APPROVAL OF FUTURE BUTLER TRAIL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WHILE BALANCING THE NEEDS OF WATER QUALITY PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION.
AND WITH THAT, I INVITE ANY QUESTIONS TO ME OR ANY OF OUR THANK YOU.
I I HAVE, I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS.
UM, THE FIRST ONE IS, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT CURRENTLY THERE ARE SECTIONS OF THE TRAIL WHERE IT EXCEEDS 12 FEET AND MAY GO UP AT LEAST 20 FEET.
UM, IF WE'RE BEING CONSERVATIVE, UM, UH, UH, THOSE PORTIONS, WERE THOSE PORTIONS WIDENED AS A RESULT OF USER USE OR WAS THERE A ACTUAL CONCERTED EFFORT TO EXPAND THOSE AREAS? I THINK THAT THERE WAS NEVER ANY KIND OF PROPOSED WIDENING OF THE TRAIL.
SO MUCH OF THE TRAIL IS DECOMPOSED GRANITE.
AND SO WITH THE INCREASE IN USERS, THERE'S A NATURAL INCREASE IN, UM, PEOPLE KIND OF GOING TO THE EDGE TO GET AROUND OTHER USERS TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE.
AND SO EVERY YEAR THE TRAIL MAYBE MIGRATES A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH DECOMPOSED GRANITE SURFACES BECAUSE THAT'S THE 'CAUSE THERE'S MORE USERS THAT ARE THERE.
AND THAT WAS MY QUESTION IS LIKE, LIKE IS IS SOMEONE GOING OUT THERE AND PUTTING GRANITE AND WHAT TO MAKE IT WIDER AND WIDER OR IS IT JUST ME BECAUSE I WANT TO GET AROUND SOMEBODY AND, BUT THERE'S A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIKE ME THAT ARE JUST MAKING IT WIDER JUST BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE WE'RE GOING AROUND, I THINK IT'S THE LATTER.
THERE IS REGULAR, UM, DECOMPOSED GRANITE APPLIED TO THE TRAIL FOR THE, IS LIKE IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE TRAIL AFTER AN EROSIVE EVENT WHERE WATER DRIVES YEAH, ACROSS THE TRAIL, THERE'S THEN LIKE RUTS AND THOSE, UH, RUTS DO NEED TO BE FILLED IN.
AND SO DECOMPOSE GRANITE DOES GET ADDED TO THE TRAIL FOR THAT REASON.
BUT THERE'S NO CONCERTED EFFORT TO SLOWLY WIDEN THE TRAIL, UM, THAT'S HAPPENING NATURALLY WITH USE.
AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS IN REGARDS TO, I KNOW CURRENTLY THERE'S GRAVEL, UH, THAT COMPRISES A LOT OF THE BUTLER GRAVEL BUTLER TRAIL.
UM, WITH THIS PLAN, UH, IF, IF ALL THIS GOES THROUGH CITY COUNCIL WOULD, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU OR THE TRUCK CONSERVANCY, BUT WOULD IT BE, ARE Y'ALL ENVISIONING THE TRAIL TO BE PAVED OR ONLY PAVED IN THOSE AREAS WHERE GRAVEL OR OTHER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES AREN'T, AREN'T GONNA BE GOOD FOR THAT SECTION? OR LIKE, WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS WE ENVISIONING? UM, FROM OUR POSITION, THERE HAS BEEN NO LIKE REQUEST FOR ANY PAVING TO HAPPEN ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS NEEDED FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY PURPOSES, FOR STABLE BRIDGES OR FOR AREAS THAT ARE REGULARLY WASHING OUT, WHICH THOSE ARE MOSTLY ALREADY
[01:35:01]
EXISTING.UM, I THINK THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY CAN SPEAK TO THEIR INTENT, BUT THERE IS NO INTENT TO CHANGE, UM, EXISTING, UH, DECOMPOSED GRANITE TO PAVED SURFACES FOR ANY OTHER REASON THAN, YOU KNOW, TO PROVIDE, UM, YOU KNOW, FIXING REALLY BIG EROSION ISSUES THERE.
THERE'S NO INTENT TO CHANGE THE, THE SURFACE TO CONCRETE.
AND THAT JUST AS, AS A COOLER, SORRY, I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS AS A, I KNOW AS A CRAWL AREA TO THAT, THIS IS MY SUB B NOW AS, AS A RESULT OF THAT 'CAUSE THAT CAME UP, I STILL HAVE A THIRD QUESTION.
UM, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL THAT WOULD ALLOW, UH, GRAVEL, UH, LARGE SECTIONS OF THE TRAILER TO BE PAVED IN THE FUTURE? SO THE CODE AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD DOES NOT GIVE DIRECTION OR ANY REQUIREMENT ON TRAIL SURFACE.
IT JUST DESCRIBES WIDTH AND LOCATION.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF CODE DOES SAY HARD SURFACE TRAIL, BUT THAT IS FURTHER CLARIFIED IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL.
THAT THAT SAME SECTION OF CODE APPLIES TO ANY SOFT SURFACE TRAIL DECOMPOSED GRANITE TRAIL THAT EXCEEDS SIX FEET IN WIDTH WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
SO AN AMENDMENT TO THIS SECTION IS AN AMENDMENT TO ALL SURFACED TRAILS.
IT DOESN'T GIVE DIRECTION TO WHAT KIND OF SURFACE SHOULD BE USED, AND THAT'S NOT THE INTENT OF THIS AMENDMENT.
AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU IS, WAIT, I ALREADY ASKED YOU ABOUT THE WIDTH OH, OH, THE MITIGATION STUFF.
UM, I KNOW YOU, UM, IN SUB NEW SUB G UM, WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT, UNLESS QUOTE, UNLESS FRUSTRATION IS PROVIDED AT A MINIMUM RATIO OF 1 0 1 WITH THE OPTION THAT THE APPLICANT DIRECTOR COLLABORATE TO REACH UP TO TWO TO ONE AS DETERMINED BY FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF FLOOD PLAIN HEALTH AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S ONE THING THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN TALKING, TALKING ABOUT LIKE IN THIS EVOLVING PROCESS.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S EVOLVED AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH COMMISSIONS AND Y'ALL'S GOTTEN FEEDBACK.
UM, AND THIS MAY REQUIRE COLLABORATION WITH LEGAL AS WELL.
BUT I WONDER IF, UM, THERE'S, THERE, THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT, AND I, I KIND OF WANNA GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT FLIPPING THE RATIOS AROUND WHERE WE, THE STARTING POINT IS TWO TO ONE WITH THE OPTION THAT THE APPLICANT AND DIRECTOR COLLABORATE SHOULD 1 0 1 BE NECESSARY DEPENDING ON THE POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCE.
WE'RE STARTING AT DIFF 'CAUSE IN MY MIND WE'RE STARTING AT DIFFERENT STARTING POINT, BUT WE'RE REACHING, BUT THE, THE, THE, THE PLACE WE'RE REACHING IS THE, THE SAME, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS PARTICULAR ROUND OF INPUT, THERE WAS LIKE SOME DIRECTION THAT WE GOT FROM THE SPONSORING COUNCIL OFFICES.
DO YOU WANT MORE THIS? YES, PLEASE.
SO, UH, DIRECTION FROM THE SPONSORING COUNCIL OFFICE THAT THIS WAS, UH, THE FLEXIBLE, UH, SOLUTION THAT PROVIDED KIND OF THE COMPROMISE BETWEEN OKAY.
LIKE THE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE SITE CONSTRAINTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION CERTAINLY WAS TWO TO ONE, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE GOAL.
BUT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE SOME REAL CONSTRAINTS TO EVERY SINGLE SITE THAT LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO REQUIRE TWO TO ONE IN THE LIMIT OF CONSTRUCTION FOR EVERY SITE PLAN THAT COMES FORWARD RELATED TO A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR THIS TRAIL.
AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD,
UH, KATIE CONEY, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.
I I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT'S CERTAINLY YOUR PREROGATIVE TO LET US KNOW THAT, THAT THAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR US TO ENSURE THAT IN WORKING WITH LAW, THAT TWO TO ONE IS THE GOAL.
UH, OBVIOUSLY AGAIN, WE WANNA BE FLEXIBLE AS LESLIE AND I HAVE BOTH, UM, UH, STATED.
BUT, UH, CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE THAT RECOMMENDATION IF THAT IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT, THAT Y'ALL SUPPORT.
I'LL, I'LL TURN IT OVER, BUT THE, THE SPONSORING I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GOT THIS EARLY 'CAUSE YOU, I THINK Y'ALL WANT, Y'ALL MENTIONED THAT IF THE SPONSORING OFFICES WERE DISTRICT SEVEN WITH COUNCIL MEMBER POOL AND DISTRICT EIGHT, PAIGE, ALICE DISTRICT EIGHT WAS THE LEAD SPONSOR, THERE WERE MULTIPLE CO-SPONSORS.
AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO, UH OKAY.
REMIND MYSELF, UH, ALL OF THEM.
BUT DISTRICT SEVEN WAS ONE OF THEM.
THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH MOST, UH, AS THESE CHANGES HAVE HAPPENED.
I APPRECIATE IT AND I THINK BOARD MEMBER HAGMAN HAS QUESTIONS AS WELL.
UM, ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS, BOBBY LEVINSKY, MENTIONED THAT THE COUNCIL ALREADY RETAINS THE ABILITY TO MAKE TRAILS THE TRAIL WIDER THAN 12 FEET IF NECESSARY, UP TO 20 FEET.
[01:40:01]
US WHY THIS IS SUCH A CRITICAL PIECE OF WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING, IF THAT'S THE CASE? SO, UM, THAT IS A PROCESS OR AT LEAST ONE PROCESS THAT CAN HAPPEN IS WITH THE COUNCIL ADOPTED PLAN.UM, AND THE COUNCIL ADOPTED PLAN IS, UM, YOU KNOW, A BIG SIMILAR COM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THIS PROCESS.
LIZ, DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THIS? UH, UH, YEAH.
HI, LIZ JOHNSTON, DEPUTY ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER WITH THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
SO THE CODE DOES ALLOW IF THERE IS A, FOR EXAMPLE, A PARKS PLAN, UM, THAT HAS BEEN COUNCIL ADOPTED, THAT GIVES A CRITERIA THAT SAYS THE TRAIL NEEDS TO BE THIS WIDE, IT NEEDS TO BE IN THIS LOCATION.
UM, THAT IS ONE PROCESS TO ALLOW TRAILS, BUTLER TRAIL OR ANY OTHER TO BE, UH, PERMITTED IN A LOCATION OTHER THAN WHERE CURRENT CODE ALLOWS.
UM, THAT IS NOT WHAT COUNSEL OPTED TO DO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
IT MAY BE KIND OF COMPLICATED TO DO AN ENTIRE VISION PLAN FOR THE BUTLER TRAIL.
AND I THINK THAT THEY WERE, UM, THOUGHT THAT A CODE AMENDMENT WOULD BE MORE EXPEDIENT.
WHEN YOU SAY THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL WANTED, ARE YOU REFERRING TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WHO'S SPONSORING THIS OR THE ENTIRE COUNCIL? I AM REFERRING TO THE INITIATING RESOLUTION THAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, UM, IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER AND ALL OF THEIR CO-SPONSORS AND IT WAS APPROVED.
YEAH, JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER, UH, YES, UH, BOARD MEMBER BAZAN JUST SINCE WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED.
DO WE HAVE THE NUMBER, WHAT THAT VOTE WAS? I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME.
ARE YOU ASKING FOR THE RESOLUTION NUMBER? YES.
IT WOULD'VE PASSED RELU OR WOULD'VE BEEN PASSED BY COUNSEL.
HOW, WHAT WAS THE VOTE RIGHT NOW? WHAT WAS THE VOTE? IS WHAT I'M, WE CAN LOOK, WE CAN LOOK IT UP.
AND THEN I I DID HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION WHILE WE'RE POTENTIALLY LOOKING THAT UP.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT I HEARD THAT, UM, ANYTHING LESS THAN 12 FEET WOULD CAUSE CONFLICT, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE 20 CAME FROM.
UM, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE WHERE THE, WHERE THAT NUMBER IS COMING FROM.
SPECIFICALLY WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM.
UM, I, IN SOME OF MY EMAIL EXCHANGES HAVE INDICATED THAT THE TRAIL IS 20 PLUS FEET IN SEVERAL AREAS.
THERE'S ALSO A SECTION OF THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY IN THE GUIDANCE ON TRAIL WIDTH.
THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY, UM, THAT KIND OF PUTS A RANGE OF THE TRAIL WIDTH FROM 12 TO 20 FEET.
AND THAT SINGLE TRACK TRAILS SHOULD NOT BE IN EXCESS OF 20 FEET UNLESS THEY'RE ALREADY THAT WIDE, WHICH IS TRUE IN SOME PLACES.
SO IT COULD, IT COULD BE A COUPLE PLACES THAT THAT 20 NUMBER IS COMING FROM.
THE RESOLUTION IN QUESTION WAS APPROVED ON CONSENT WITH NO OBJECT OBJECTIONS AT THAT PARTICULAR MEETING.
I WOULD JUST ADD, THIS IS BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN.
I WOULD JUST ADD TO, UM, I BELIEVE WHAT, UH, CHAIR VILLALOBOS WAS MENTIONING EARLIER THAT TO ME IT WOULD KIND OF MAKE SENSE TO SWAP THOSE, UM, BASELINE RESTORATION GUIDELINES TO WHERE IT DOES SAY, YOU KNOW, THE BASELINE'S TWO TO ONE WITH A ONE-TO-ONE RESTORATION WHERE INFEASIBLE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS, THAT IS THE GOAL, UM, ALREADY, UH, BUT THE WORDING JUST SOUNDS PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE PALATABLE.
SO JUST WOULD ADD THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF THAT AS WELL.
UH, ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS, ROBIN RATHER MENTIONED THAT THE TRAIL IS IN THE CRITICAL WATER ZONE, AND HER THOUGHTS ARE THAT WE ARE UNDERMINING THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT BY ASKING THEM TO RELAX THEIR STANDARDS.
I WROTE DOWN, UH, SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD SAID, MS. LILY, THAT, UM, THE SITE PROPOSES DRAINAGE TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY.
I THINK BASIC ECOLOGY, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE BEST WAY TO KEEP OUR WATER CLEAN IS WHAT NATURE HAS PROVIDED ON THE EMBANKMENT IN THAT RIPARIAN ROOT ZONE.
AND SO CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR,
[01:45:01]
UH, PROPOSED DRAINAGE, EXCUSE ME, DRAINAGE TECHNIQUES MIGHT BE BETTER THAN WHAT NATURE HAS PROVIDED? UM, SO I THINK NATURE PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT FILTER FOR WATER AND CERTAINLY SLOWS DOWN THE EROSIVE CONVEYANCE OF WATER FLOWING OVER THE LAND.THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERVENTIONS THAT CAN HAPPEN THAT ARE UPSTREAM OR UPHILL OF THE TRAIL THAT, UM, INTERCEPT THE WATER BEFORE IT HITS THE TRAIL.
UM, AND THOSE INCLUDE NATURAL INTERVENTIONS AS WELL.
USE OF PLANTS, USE OF VEGETATED BUFFERS.
THOSE MIGHT OCCUR OUTSIDE OF THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
THOSE MIGHT OCCUR OUTSIDE OF THE 50 FOOT SETBACK.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THE USE OF NATURAL, UM, VEGETATED AREAS AND CERTAINLY WOODY SPECIES IS A, YOU KNOW, VERY POWERFUL WAY TO, UH, DISSIPATE, YOU KNOW, STRONG EROSIVE FLOWS COMING TOWARDS THE TRAIL.
UM, AND, AND IT'S CERTAINLY NOT CONSIDERED TO BE USED IN, UH, INSTEAD BUT IN CONCERT WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TO IMPROVE EROSION CONDITIONS.
DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON A PAVED SECTION MIGHT CREATE MORE EROSION THAN AN UNPAVED SECTION? UM, I THINK THAT THERE ARE CONDITIONS THAT PAVED SECTIONS CAN CAUSE EROSION CONDITIONS AND PAVED SECTIONS CAN IMPROVE EROSION CONDITIONS.
THEY'RE BOTH TOOLS TO BE USED IN THE RIGHT AND MOST APPROPRIATE PLACE, CERTAINLY WITH THE CONSIDERATION FOR, YOU KNOW, SLOPES, UM, HOW MUCH DRAINAGE IS FEEDING A PARTICULAR POINT AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, LIKE SMALL CROSSINGS.
UM, SO I THINK BOTH ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES AND SHOULD BE USED APPROPRIATELY.
ANY OTHER QUESTION? BOARD MEMBERS? YES.
I'VE BEEN GOING OVER THE CODE AMENDMENTS IN MY HEAD SINCE I SAW THIS BROUGHT BEFORE OUR BOARD AND GOING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE COUNCIL.
TIM, CAN YOU PLEASE PULL UP THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REVIEW SHEET? IT'S IN MY FOLDER THAT I GAVE YOU.
I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS A CODE AMENDMENT TWO SECTION 25 DASH EIGHT DASH 2 61, THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE DEVELOPMENT REGARDING A HARD SURFACE TRAIL.
SO ALL OF THESE AMENDMENTS ARE REGARDING SECTION B THREE, WHICH DEALS WITH A HARD SURFACE TRAIL, AND IT SAYS A HARD SURFACE TRAIL MAY CROSS THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE PURSUANT TO SECTION 25 8 2 62 CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE MOBILITY CROSSINGS A HARD SURFACE TRAIL THAT DOES NOT CROSS THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL MAY BE LOCATED WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE ONLY IF, AND THEN THERE ARE THESE CODE CRITERIA, SECTION C LIMITED TO 12 FEET IN WIDTH PLUS ONE FOOT COMPACTED SUBGRADE SHOULDERS UNLESS A TRAIL, UNLESS A WIDER TRAIL IS DESIGN DESIGNATED IN A COUNCIL ADOPTED PLAN, OR THE TRAIL IS PART OF THE ANN ANDROY BUTLER HY AND BIKE TRAIL SYSTEM.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, NOW THIS AMENDMENT WILL EXEMPT THE TRAIL FROM THIS CRITERIA AND ALLOW A HARD SURFACE TRAIL ANYWHERE ALONG THE TRAIL ANYWHERE.
SO A HARD SURFACE TRAIL IS, TH THIS AMENDMENT DOESN'T ALLOW OR DISALLOW A HARD SURFACE TRAIL.
INHERENTLY IT ALLOWS A, A TRAIL EARTH IN SURFACE OR HARD SURFACE.
UM, 25 82, 61 B THREE A, UH, FROM THAT CODE SECTION SAYS, DESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL.
AND IN THAT SECTION IT DESCRIBES NOT ONLY THE HARD SURFACE TRAILS, BUT THE SOFT SURFACE TRAILS THAT ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THESE SAME CRITERIA, UM, WHEN THEY'RE IN EXCESS OF SIX FEET.
SO I HAVE THAT ALSO, IF YOU CAN BRING UP THE NEXT, UM, ITEM IN THERE.
SO IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA, MANUAL TRAILS ARE DESCRIBED, AND I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK OUR BOARD HAS HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW ALL THIS INFORMATION AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION AND IT'S
[01:50:01]
VERY IMPORTANT.SO REQUIREMENTS AND TRAILS IN ALL WATERSHEDS, MULTI-USE TRAILS, INCLUDING HARD SURFACE TRAILS, MAY CROSS A CRITICAL WA QUA WATER QUALITY ZONE OF ANY WATERWAY.
A TRAIL WITH AN EARTH AND SURFACE OR SOFT SURFACE LIKE MULCH OR DECOMPOSED GRANITE IS ALLOWED ANYWHERE WITHIN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE PROVIDED THAT THE TRAIL FOLLOWS THE BASIC GUIDANCE FOR PLACEMENT AND DESIGN PROVIDED BELOW A TRAIL WITH AN EARTHEN OR SOFT SURFACE SHOULD NOT EXCEED SIX FEET IF THE WIDTH IS LOCATED CLOSER TO THE WATERWAY THAN THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HARD SURFACE TRAILS.
IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT A HARD SURFACE TRAIL INCLUDES A TRAIL CONSTRUCTED USING CONCRETE OR ASPHALT.
SO THE POINT HERE THAT I'M, I'M SEEING IS THAT THE TRAIL STARTED OUT AS BEING A SOFT SURFACE TRAIL.
IT HAS BEEN A SOFT SURFACE TRAIL SINCE IT WAS DESIGNED ORIGINALLY.
AND I FEEL LIKE THE POINT OF THESE CODE AMENDMENTS IS TO ALLOW WITHOUT REVIEW, ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OR EVEN COUNCIL APPROVAL TO HAVE A HARD SURFACE TRAIL ANYWHERE IN THE BUTLER TRAIL IF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY SO FEELS THAT THAT IS A NECESSARY SAFETY AND MOBILITY ADDITION OR A, AN ADDITION FOR A, A DEVELOPMENT PERHAPS.
UM, MY OTHER QUESTIONS OF COURSE ARE WHY, WHY DO WE NEED THESE CODE AMENDMENTS AND WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO FACILITATE? UM, IS IT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATESMAN P IF YOU CAN PULL UP THE, THE IMAGE THAT I HAVE, UH, NUMBER FOUR, THEM TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
SO PROPOSED FOR THE STATESMAN P IS A BOARDWALK EXTENDING INTO LADY BIRD LAKE AND THESE MASSIVE CONCRETE TRAILS AROUND A LARGE LAWN THAT WILL EXCEED 20 FEET IN CONCRETE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT THE BOARDWALK EXCEED? THIS IS A PROPOSAL.
SO THE, UH, THE STATESMAN PUT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY COUNSEL.
SO THE THINGS THAT UM, RESTRICT, UH, THE TRAIL IN THE BOUNDARIES OF THAT PUT ARE ALREADY DICTATED FOR THAT AREA AND THEY EXCEED CURRENT CODE ALREADY BASED ON THE ORDINANCE AND THAT'S THE REGULATING CODE FOR THAT AREA.
UM, HOW MANY OF OUR PARKS BOARD MEMBERS, SHOW OF HANDS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO READ THE SAFETY MOBILITY STUDY THAT IS PROPOSING THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS? HOW MANY OF US HAVE READ THIS? I HAVE READ IT.
ANYONE ELSE? NO ONE ELSE HAS READ THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDIES THAT THIS IS BEING BASED ON.
HAS ANYONE READ THE URBAN FORESTRY AND NATURAL GUIDELINES BUTLER TRAIL REPORT NOT FROM 2015, THAT'S THE OTHER DOCUMENT THAT THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING BASED ON.
AM I CORRECT, LESLIE? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
BASICALLY, IF, IF THEY HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO READ THIS REVIEW, ALL OF IT, I CAN GIVE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES.
UM, TIM, IF YOU WILL PULL UP NUMBER FIVE.
SO THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY HAS 15 PROJECTS PLANNED FOR ITS 15TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
AND SOME OF THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE HOLLY SHORES, UM, MASTER PLAN IMPROVEMENT.
I AM NOT SURE IF THERE ARE CONCRETE PAVED AREAS IN THE HOLLY SHORES MASTER PLAN, BUT I BELIEVE THERE ARE.
UM, IS THAT CORRECT? SO THAT'S ONE OF THEM.
UM, IF YOU CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM, PLEASE, TIM.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOVERNING, UM, WITH WITHIN THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE SAFE TRAIL SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY, WHICH WAS DONE IN 2021.
BY THE WAY, UM, THE NUMBERS FROM THIS STUDY WERE TAKEN DURING, UM, JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC 2020.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT THEY ARE REFLECTIVE OF TODAY'S NUMBERS ANYWAY.
ANY SEGMENT OF TRAIL LESS THAN 12 FEET WILL NEED A SOLUTION, WHICH COULD BE WIDENING, DOUBLE TRAIL, ALTERNATIVE TRAIL ROOT, OR CREATING A BOARDWALK.
[01:55:01]
THE TRAIL ALIGNMENT ALREADY EXCEEDS THIS WIDTH, THIS STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT A SINGLE TRAIL ALIGNMENT SHOULD NEVER BE WIDER THAN 20 FEET PLUS THE SHOULDERS.NEXT, THIS IS GENERAL POLICY AND DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY.
ONE OF THEM SAYS, SUSTAIN USE OF DECONSTRUCTED GRANITE AND LIKE MATERIALS, BUT PILOT THE USE OF NEW STABILIZING MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES TO INCREASE THE STABILITY AND PILOT NEW EDGE TREATMENTS TO REDUCE RUNOFF AND SETTLING.
THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A CHANCE, WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW OR LOOK AT.
IF YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE NEXT ONES VERY QUICKLY, THESE ARE POTENTIAL PLANS.
IF YOU CAN PULL UP NUMBER 10 PLEASE.
SO, UH, THIS DOCUMENT WAS ALSO SHOWN BY, UM, SOMEONE WHO GAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
AND I'M GLAD THAT THE PUBLIC WAS LOOKING AT THIS.
UH, A PROPOSED DOUBLE TRAIL TO ACCOMMODATE ZONE OF HIGH DEMAND AND REDUCE A SINGLE SLOPE EROSION, WHICH WOULD BE A BICYCLE PRIORITY.
BOARDWALK RAISED PRECAST CONCRETE BOARDWALK PROTECTING EXISTING WETLAND AREA.
UM, THIS IS PROPOSED POSSIBLY FROM MOPAC ALL THE WAY TO THE LAMAR BRIDGE.
SO IT WOULD BE A CONCRETE TRAIL RUNNING RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE TRAIL FROM MOPAC TO THE LAMAR BRIDGE GOING OVER ANOTHER CONCRETE BRIDGE AT LOU NEFF POINT.
SO THESE ARE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE DON'T EVEN, WE HAD NO IDEA, WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.
UM, IF YOU'LL SHOW THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
BOARD MEMBERS, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW KIMBERLY MCNEELY, I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT I DID CONFIRM THAT ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT HAPPENS ON THE TRAIL THAT IS OTHER THAN REGULAR MAINTENANCE DOES HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE REGULAR PERMITTING AND APPROVAL PROCESS.
SO I JUST GIVING YOU THAT INFORMATION THAT YES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS COULD HAPPEN, BUT THERE'S A, A IMPROVEMENT PRO, THERE IS A PROCESS FOR APPROVAL THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
SO WHY WOULD WE NEED A CODE AMENDMENT? WHY COULDN'T, I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE ABOUT THE AMENDMENT, I'M JUST SIMPLY WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION SO YOU COULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS YOU IF YOU DECIDE TO VOTE ON THIS.
UM, I, I THINK IT MIGHT ALSO BE, UM, IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AND MAYBE ASHLEY CAN OR SOMEONE FROM THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY MAY WANNA SPEAK ON THIS, THAT THE PROJECTS THAT THEY BRING FORWARD HAVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AS WELL.
THAT THERE IS THIS SITE PLAN REVIEW THAT OUR STAFF DOES THAT OTHER REVIEW DISCIPLINES LOOK AT FOR ALL OF THESE PROJECTS.
UM, UM, HAS ANYONE ON OUR BOARD READ THROUGH, UM, EXTENSIVELY THE 2023 CITY OF AUSTIN URBAN TRAILS PLAN? I CAN SAY YES TO THIS.
MUCH LIKE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, I'M SURE.
OKAY, SO THEN, UM, VICE CHAIR, YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN THAT IN THIS DOCUMENT IN, UH, LET'S SEE.
UM, CAN WE PLEASE PULL UP NUMBER 12 IN MY FOLDER? I, I DON'T KNOW.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A LONG PDF, BUT IF YOU SCROLL THROUGH IT TO BELIEVE IT IS PAGE, PAGE SIX WILL SEE THE DEFINITION OF URBAN TRAILS.
WHAT ARE URBAN TRAILS? URBAN TRAILS ARE WIDE PAVED, MULTI-USE TRAILS THAT CONNECT WITH ON-STREET, BIKEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.
URBAN TRAILS ARE PHYSICALLY SEPARATED FROM MOTOR VEHICLES IN USE AS RECREATION, RECREATIONAL AND TRANSPORTATION ROUTES BY PEOPLE WALKING, BIKING, ROLLING AND MORE.
SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS HERE IS, PER THESE CODE AMENDMENTS, ARE WE GOING TO BE TURNING THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL INTO AN URBAN TRAIL? UM, ANOTHER DEFINITION OF A TRAIL ON ANOTHER PAGE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS A PARK TRAIL, I BELIEVE THAT IS PAGE 10.
PARK TRAILS HAVE A VARIETY OF SURFACE TYPES,
[02:00:02]
CONCRETE GARAGE, GRANITE, NATURAL SURFACE AND WITS WITH THE PRIMARY GOAL OF RECREATION.SOME PARK TRAILS MAY SERVE AS URBAN TRAILS IF THEY ARE WIDE PAVED AND CONNECT PEOPLE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
THERE, I BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS IN AUSTIN WOULD SAY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR, AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, THAT THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL WAS CREATED AS A NATURAL TRAIL, A TRAIL WITH A SURFACE THAT IS NOT ASPHALT, THAT IS NOT CONCRETE.
AND MY CONCERN WITH THESE CODE AMENDMENTS IS THAT IT DOES NOT GIVE ENOUGH REGULATION TO THE USE OF ASPHALT AND CONCRETE WITHOUT A PROCESS.
SO I WANT, I I WANNA BRING ATTENTION TO THE KEY URBAN TRAIL CORRIDORS MAP IN THIS PLAN.
I THINK IT'S ON PAGE, THE REASON I WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THAT MAP IS, UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL UNPAVED TRAILS THAT ARE CONSIDERED KEY URBAN TRAIL CORRIDORS BECAUSE THEY'RE CONNECTIVE FOR EXISTING URBAN TRAILS.
UM, THIS PLAN WAS BUILT WITH AN EXISTING HUGE LOOP THAT KIND OF SERVES AS, UH, KIND OF WHEEL AND SPOKE.
AND UM, THERE IS A PIECE OF THE PLAN THAT SAYS THERE ARE NON-COMPLIANT TRAILS, A PART OF THIS URBAN TRAIL SYSTEM.
AND, AND THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THIS PLAN BECAUSE THEY CONNECT ALL OF THE URBAN TRAILS.
AND THAT'S IN REFERENCE TO THE ANN AND ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
ALSO, COUNTRY CLUB CREEK TRAIL IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THESE NON-COMPLIANT URBAN TRAILS THAT PROVIDE VERY IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS FOR THE URBAN TRAIL SYSTEM.
AND IT DOESN'T GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PAVE THEM, BUT THEY ARE A PART OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY CONNECT THE URBAN TRAILS TOGETHER.
I THINK, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WANT TO ADD, IF YOU WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING JUST, JUST REAL QUICK, KATIE CONEY ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER, UM, I'M HEARING CONCERN ABOUT WIDTH.
THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING PER YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
WE CAN, WE CAN CONSIDER AND WORK WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO TRY TO INTEGRATE CONSIDERATION OF THAT IN THE CODE LANGUAGE.
UH, IF THERE IS A DESIRE TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT LIMIT TRAIL SURFACING OR MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING CRITICAL OF THE SCENARIOS THAT WE MIGHT CONSIDER FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAIL SURFACING, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CERTAINLY EXPLORE AS WELL WITH OUR PART PARTNERS, STAKEHOLDERS, ET CETERA.
UM, AND SO CERTAINLY FEEDBACK WE'RE WELCOME TO HEAR.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE PUBLIC INPUT AND ALSO THE CONCERNS ON THE BOARD THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO, TO, UM, SUGGEST SOME DIFFERENT AMENDMENTS OR SOME DIFFERENT WORDING TO THE AMENDMENTS.
UM, JUST BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, IS THERE ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTIONS, UH, FOR THE PRESENTERS EITHER IN PERSON OR ONLINE? I CAN'T SEE THE ONLINE PEOPLE.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.
I, AND I WILL JUST, UH, TALK ABOUT, ABOUT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE AMONGST OURSELVES.
I I GUESS I'LL JUST START IT OFF BY SAYING THAT, AND I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE AN AMENDMENT OR, I MEAN I DO HAVE AN, I I GUESS MAYBE I HAVE AN AMENDMENT.
I HAVEN'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT WARNING IS, BUT I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK ON IN ORDER TO, UH, BE PRODUCTIVE IS TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE IS A WAY TO, IN REGARDS TO THE MITIGATION ASPECT OF THE, OF, OF, OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, TO SWITCH THE DEFAULT FROM BEING 1 0 1 TO TWO TO ONE WITHOUT, UM, SEVERELY AND INEFFICIENTLY LIMITING, UH, WHAT HAS TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO MITIGATE SOME AREAS OF, OF THE, OF THE TRAIL.
UM, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, WHAT I HEARD OTHER PRESENTERS SAY IS, IS THAT THIS WAS A CITY COUNCIL, UH, MANDATED PROCESS.
UM, AND SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN BACK FROM THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICES IS, IS THAT THEY WANT, UM, FLEXIBILITY.
SO I'LL JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACHIEVE THE SAME RESULT WITH THE DEFAULTS BEING DIFFERENT, THE TWO TO
[02:05:01]
ONE, BUT ALSO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY THAT CITY COUNCIL OFFICES HAVE, UH, INDICATED THAT THEY WANT.SO I JUST WANNA THROW THAT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW AND I, I'LL TRY TO SEE IF I CAN COME UP WITH SOME WORDING, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, STICKS IN MY, IN MY, IN MY MIND.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTED CHAIR VILLALOBOS IS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION IN DECEMBER, IT ACTUALLY HAS THAT LANGUAGE.
AND SO I ASSUME COUNCIL GAVE FEEDBACK AFTER THAT ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION LANGUAGE, UM, OR THE, I MEAN I, IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME, AND SOMEONE COULD CLARIFY THIS IF WE NEED IT, BUT THAT STAFF WERE ACTUALLY BRINGING IT WITH THE ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE AT THAT TIME.
PERHAPS THERE WAS COUNCIL OFFICE FEEDBACK IN BETWEEN, SO THEIR LANGUAGE AT THE TIME WAS WITH MITIGATION FOR IMPACT WITH A TWO TO ONE OR ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE WATERSHED LEADING WITH THE TWO TO ONE.
SO I JUST BRING THAT UP BECAUSE IT IS A CLEAR DIFFERENCE IN SOMETHING ASKED ABOUT.
AND THE ONE-TO-ONE WAS NEVER MENTIONED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
SO YEAH, I GOT THE IMPRESSION IT WASN'T, I MEAN, I'M SURE STAFF COULD CONFIRM, BUT AT THE TIME THAT STAFF WERE ASKING FOR THIS LANGUAGE, SINCE THEY INCLUDED IT IN THE WAREHOUSE, IT'S IN OUR BACKUP.
UM, SO IT SAYS, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING THREE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS AND IT SAYS ALLOW THE BUTLER TRAIL TO EXCEED 12 FEET IN WIDTH, ALLOW THE BUTLER TRAIL TO BE LOCATED WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE SHORELINE WITH MITIGATION FOR IMPACT WITH A TWO TO ONE OR ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR ADDITIONAL RESTORATION FOR SHORELINE DISTURBANCE ASSOCIATED WITH SHORELINE ACCESS FOR THE BUTLER TRAIL.
I STILL DON'T GET THAT THIRD ONE.
AND, AND I GUESS MAYBE THIS IS, I GUESS, UH, VICE CHAIR FLOWERS DOES, DOES BRING UP SOMETHING.
WAS THE FEEDBACK THAT Y'ALL RECEIVED IN REGARDS TO FLEXIBILITY, WAS THAT AFTER OR BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION PASSED THAT QUESTION? KATIE CO.
UH, WE RECEIVED FEEDBACK IN THE NEW YEAR.
SO, UH, PRIOR TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, DURING ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND ALSO DURING CODES AND ORDINANCES, WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THAT FEEDBACK YET.
ANY OTHER YES, SORRY, JUST TO FOLLOW UP TO THAT.
DO, DO YOU HAVE ANY ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE THAT POTENTIALLY SPEAKS TO THE, THE TWO TO ONE FIRST AS WE'RE WORKING TO TRY TO, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WITH YOUR INTENT, WE CAN WORK WITH LAW AND AND OUR PARTNERS ON, ON TRYING TO CAPTURE THAT.
UM, I I'M NOT THE LEGAL WORDSMITH ON THESE THINGS.
WAS IT A LEGAL ISSUE THAT YOU WERE ASKED TO CHANGE IT FOR OR WAS IT A COUNCIL OFFICE PREFERENCE? A COUNCIL OFFICE PREFERENCE.
I I MEAN, I KNOW I DON'T, SORRY, I, I JUST, I JUST, I MEAN THAT KIND OF CHANGES MY PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS BECAUSE, UM, I, YEAH, IT CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE.
DON'T THINK BOARD MEMBER HAGMAN, I AM STILL CONFUSED WHY WE NEED A CODE CHANGE.
UM, I HEAR THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY WANTS MORE FLEXIBILITY.
DIRECTOR MCNEELY SAYS EVERY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH COUNCIL.
UH, I TRUST THE COUNCIL TO NOT LOWER THEIR STANDARDS.
UM, THE PHRASE LOWERING OF STANDARDS WAS MENTIONED A FEW TIMES TONIGHT BY, UH, OUR SPEAKERS AND, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING WITH THIS ONE-TO-ONE THING AS LOWERING OF STANDARDS.
SO WHY THE CODE CHANGE IF COUNSEL HAS TO APPROVE EVERY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
I CAN SPEAK TO THIS A LITTLE BIT.
I MIGHT, UM, ALSO HAVE LIZ JOHNSTON OFFER HER OPINION AS WELL.
OUR DEPUTY ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.
UM, IF CODE IS RESULTING IN NON-COMPLIANCE OF A MAJORITY OF A SYSTEM, THEN THE CODE'S NOT WORKING, IN MY OPINION.
UM, AND SO I THINK WORKING IN GOOD FAITH WITH OUR PARTNERS LIKE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, WE WANT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH HOW WE EXPECT FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS TO OCCUR.
AND WE WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE KIND OF RESTORATION THAT WE WOULD EXPECT IN EXCHANGE FOR APPROVING OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.
UH, RIGHT NOW IN A VARIANCE PROCESS, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SURETY ON WHAT KIND OF MITIGATION OR RESTORATION WE WOULD ASK FOR.
UM, AND ALSO NOT A CLEAR MECHANISM FOR ADVANCING PROJECTS, WHICH I RECOGNIZE CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR AN ENTITY LIKE THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY TO BE ABLE TO FUNDRAISE, SET PROJECT BUDGETS AND ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO STICK TO THOSE.
SO REALLY WANTING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY TO OUR PARTNERS AND WORK IN GOOD FAITH WITH THEM IS IMPORTANT.
THAT SAID, UM, TWO TO ONE WAS INITIALLY RECOMMENDED BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANYWHERE FROM RIGHT AT THE SHORELINE TO 50 FEET AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE.
AND THAT IS AS FAR AS FROM AN ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A RIPARIAN AREA, UH, ADJACENT TO A WATERWAY.
AND SO RECOGNIZING THAT REALLY
[02:10:01]
A LOT OF WHERE THE TRAIL EXISTS RIGHT NOW IS ALREADY THERE.IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS GO, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE FUNCTION IN A LOT OF PLACES.
AND SO THAT TWO TO ONE WOULD IMPROVE THAT FUNCTION.
IT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE FEASIBLE, UH, WHICH IS WHY WE WANT TO ALLOW FOR THAT FLEXIBILITY BOTH IN LOCATION AND THE AMOUNT OF RESTORATION WE'RE ASKING FOR.
I HOPE THAT OFFERS SOME CLARITY, BUT I THINK ON THE PROCESS SIDE OF WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT, MAYBE LIZ CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT WELL OVERVIEW IN THE FUTURE.
YEAH, SO, UH, SIMILAR TO WHAT, UH, KATIE SAID IT, WHAT WE HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SURETY, UM, FOR THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY OR ANY PARTNERS WHO ARE, UM, COMING WITH A PROJECT RELATED TO THE BUTLER TRAIL BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY CODE, IT IS ALREADY NON-COMPLIANT WITH CURRENT CODE.
IF THERE WERE TO BE A LAND USE COMMISSION VARIANCE REQUIRED THAT, UM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DESIGN THE PLANS, SUBMIT THE PLANS FOR REVIEW, AND THEY WOULD NOT EVEN KNOW IF THEY ACHIEVED, UH, SUPPORTING, UH, RECOMMENDATION OR APPROVED VARIANCE UNTIL TOWARDS THE VERY END OF THE REVIEW PROCESS.
AND SO FOR A NONPROFIT LOOKING TO, UM, USE THEIR FUNDRAISING UH, DOLLARS, UH, YOU KNOW, WISELY, THAT PRESENTED A A PROBLEM FOR THEM.
AND SO HAVING THEM MITIGATION, WHETHER IT BE OR TWO TO ONE, IT GIVES SOME SURETY BOTH FROM A REVIEW STANDPOINT AND A, UM, PLANNING STANDPOINT FROM THE, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
SO THERE'S NOT DIFFERING, YOU KNOW, ONE VARIANCE GETS CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND ANOTHER VARIANCE GETS OTHER CONDITIONS.
EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT AMOUNT OF MITIGATION IS GOING TO BE, UM, REQUIRED.
AND OF COURSE THE TWO TO ONE WOULD BE THE GOAL, BUT IN SOME CASES IT, IT JUST MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE BASED ON, UH, SITE CONDITIONS.
SO THAT'S KINDA WHERE THE ONE-TO-ONE TO 2, 1 2 TO ONE CAME FROM IS, YOU KNOW, IN SOME AREAS THEY MAY NOT REALLY HAVE THE SPACE TO GO UP TO TWO TO ONE.
CAN YOU GIVE US, UM, A CONCRETE, NO PUN INTENDED, UM, EXAMPLE OF WHAT A TWO TO ONE MITIGATION WOULD BE AS AS OPPOSED TO ONE-TO-ONE IN A PROJECT ALONG THE TRAIL? RIGHT.
SO IF THE TRAIL NEEDED TO BE REALIGNED OR EXPANDED, OR MAYBE IT'S A NEW SECTION OF TRAIL AND IT COULD NOT, UM, BE WITHIN, YOU KNOW, IN THE OUTER HALF OF THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE FOR EVERY SQUARE FOOT OF NEW TRAIL, UM, THAT WOULD REQUIRE EITHER ONE TO ONE OR TWO TO ONE.
SO TWICE THE AMOUNT OF AREA, UM, THAT IS DISTURBED WOULD BE BROUGHT FROM, YOU KNOW, POOR OR GOOD CONDITION TO, UH, FAIR OR EXCELLENT.
SO MEANING WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT NOT JUST WHAT IS BEING RESTORED, LIKE PLANTED BACK, BUT THAT IS A COMPONENT OF IT, BUT IS THERE SUFFICIENT, LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTORY, SHRUBS, TREES, WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE SOIL? IS THERE, UM, WOODY DEBRIS? YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA MANUAL.
SO IT'S A, IT'S MORE, UM, IT'S A MORE ROBUST WAY OF RESTORING THE FLOOD PLAIN.
I I WILL SAY I, I I HAVE BEEN USING MITIGATION.
I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT I WAS EDUCATED TONIGHT ABOUT THAT.
YEAH, THAT IS JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, MITIGATION IN THIS CONTEXT REALLY TALKS ABOUT PAYING INTO A FUND AND WE DIDN'T WANT THAT TO BE, UM, ON THE TABLE.
SO, AND WHEN YOU SAY DISTURBANCE, THAT MEANS CUTTING DOWN TREES, TEARING OUT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AREA AROUND THE TRAIL OR WHAT, WHAT IS DISTURBANCE? WELL, IT COULD BE REPLACING WHATEVER GROUND IS THERE WITH TRAIL.
SO IF, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THEY TRY TO WORK AROUND THE, THE TREES.
UM, SOMETIMES THEY MAY HAVE TO REMOVE TREE, BUT THAT HAS ITS OWN MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS THAT IS NOT BEING CHANGED.
SO ANYTIME YOU, YOU KNOW, GO FROM GRASS OR LAWN OR WHATEVER IT IS TO TRAIL, THAT IS WHAT DISTURBANCE WOULD BE CONSIDERED.
IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY THAT CAN, UM, ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT THIS PARTICULAR CODE AMENDMENT IS MEANT TO FACILITATE? HI, ASHLEY FISHER WITH THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
UM, ALTHOUGH I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DETAILS BEYOND WHAT'S IN THE SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY, BUT, BUT GO AHEAD.
SO YOU GAVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOLLY SHORES MASTER PLAN, WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER, UM, IT'S BEEN APPROVED OR IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR WHATEVER.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT THIS CODE AMENDMENT IS NEEDED FOR?
[02:15:02]
YES, I LISTED A FEW OF THEM EARLIER, BUT IT'S THINGS LISTED IN THE, IN THE SAFETY MOBILITY STUDIES SUCH AS STORMWATER UPGRADES, TRAILHEAD CONNECTIONS, PATH STABILIZATIONS, SAFETY LIGHTING, THAT SORT OF THING.AND SO THE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOLLY PROJECT CAME TO YOU GUYS, UM, LAST MONTH, UM, FOR A PARK IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT, UM, BEFORE THAT MOVE FORWARD.
SO THERE'S PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES, UM, INVOLVED WITH, WITH ANY OF OUR IMPROVEMENTS THAT AREN'T JUST REGULAR MAINTENANCE.
ANY OTHER COMMENT? UM, ANY BOARD MEMBERS VIA WEBEX? OKAY.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE? AMENDMENTS, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS? UH, UM, I WOULD, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE INCLUDE THE TWO TO ONE MITIGATION REQUIREMENT OR YEAH, SORRY.
THAT WAS IN THE CODE AMENDMENTS VERSION REVIEWED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
AND I WOULD INCLUDE A MAXIMUM WIDTH FOR THE TRAIL OF 20 FEET, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED BY THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY IN THEIR SAFETY AND MOBILITY REPORT.
CAN YOU SPLIT THEM UP? CAN YOU, CAN WE DO THEM INDIVIDUALLY? YEAH, SURE.
SORRY, I ASKED YOU IF WE COULD SPLIT 'EM UP.
UM, SO LET'S TAKE 'EM UP BY ONE AT A TIME.
SO CAN YOU JUST, LET'S DO THE FIRST ONE.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN MADE A MOTION.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO RECOMMEND TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 25, SPECIFICALLY 25 DASH EIGHT DASH 2 61, SUB B THREE C AND 25 DASH EIGHT DASH 2 61 B THREE F THROUGH G AND 25 DASH EIGHT DASH 2 61 C TWO RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AT THE ANN AND ROY BUTLER BIKE TRAIL.
UH, THERE'S BEEN A, THERE'S BEEN A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND.
THERE'S A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HAGMAN.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT IS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO DISCUSSION AND I THINK BOARD MEMBER REED HAS A DISCUSSION ITEM, RIGHT? I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CODE AMENDMENT, UM, TO READ, TO INCLUDE THE TWO TO ONE MITIGATION REQUIREMENT SIMILAR TO THE, THE VERSION REVIEWED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
AND I CAN ACTUALLY READ THAT TO YOU IF YOU WANT.
SO THAT WOULD BE, UM, ALLOW THE BUTLER TRAIL TO EXCEED 12 FEET IN WIDTH, ALLOW THE BUT BUTLER TRAIL TO, UM, WITH A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF, I'M SORRY, I'M DOING, JUMPING AHEAD OF MYSELF.
ALLOW THE BUTLER TRAIL TO BE LOCATED WITHIN 20 FEET OF THE SHORELINE OF LADY BIRD LAKE WITH MITIGATION OR IMPACT WITH A TWO TO ONE OR ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, BOARD MEMBER REED, UH, DID YOU MEAN 50? BECAUSE I THINK 50 IS THE STANDARD CURRENTLY IN CODE LOCATED WITHIN 50 FEET.
SO, UM, CAN YOU READ IT JUST ONE MORE TIME? JUST THAT, THAT LAST SECTION TO ALLOW THAT LAST SECTION, EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE? SURE.
TO ALLOW THE BUTLER TRAIL TO BE LOCATED WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE SHORELINE OF LADY BIRD LAKE WITH MITIGATION FOR IMPACT WITH A TWO TO ONE OR ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
BOARD MEMBERS, UM, THERE, THERE, UH, BOARD MEMBER, UH, VICE CHAIR FLOWERS MADE A MOTION BOARD MEMBER REED IS, UH, PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT.
IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND.
AND THE, A MOTION WE'RE VOTING ON IS TO AMEND, UH, THE CODE AMENDMENT TO READ, UM, TO, UH, A MINUTE TO READ THAT.
TO ALLOW THE BUTLER TRAIL TO BE LOCATED WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE SHORE LINE OF LADY BIRD LAKE WITH MITIGATION FOR IMPACT WITH A TWO TO ONE, WITH, UH, WITH RESTORATION.
[02:20:02]
RIGHT.RESTORATION YOU MEANT RE WE MEANT RESTORATION INSTEAD OF MITIGATION.
WITH RESTORATION FOR IMPACT WITH A TWO TO ONE ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE THAT'S APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
UM, ALL UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY HOW THAT AFFECTS THE LANGUAGE THAT, THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.
CAN I HAVE SOME MORE CLARITY ON THAT? YEAH.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UH, THE CURRENT MOTION ON THE TABLE, UH, IS TO, UH, AND I DON'T, I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT IT EXACTLY, BUT TO RECOMMEND THAT WE SUPPORT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PRESENTED TODAY, ONE OF WHICH IS 25 8 2 61 B THREE F THROUGH G TO ALLOW THE BUTLER TRAIL TO BE LOCATED WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE SHORELINE OF LADYBIRD LAKE WITH A BASELINE OF ONE TO ONE RESTORATION AND UP TO TWO TO ONE RESTORATION WHEN FEASIBLE.
SO THE AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR IS SAYING WE WOULD CHANGE IT TO TWO TO ONE WITH ALTERNATE.
WHAT'S THE EXACT LANGUAGE THERE ON THAT ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE AS APPROVED ALTERNATIVE COMPLIANCE AS APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF WATERSHED OF WATERSHED PROTECTION VERSUS HAVING THE OPTION NITIALLY.
YEAH, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW,
I'D PREFER TO KEEP THE LANGUAGES CLOSE TO, UM, THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS PUT IN FRONT OF US, RATHER THAN GOING BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS LANGUAGE.
SO IF WE WANT TO REWORK SOMETHING, MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE, UH, TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT, UM, SIMILAR TO BOARD, UM, BOARD CHAIR BE WAS HIS SUGGESTION EARLIER, SEE IF WE COULD DO IT WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT'S PRESENTED IN FRONT OF US, UM, WHICH IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS SWAPPING TWO TO ONE AND ONE TO ONE, UM, AND FIXING THE MINIMUM RATIO LANGUAGE.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT OTHER PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT IDEA.
UH, I WANNA, UM, SUGGEST THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE US THE INTENT, UM, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, BECAUSE THIS LANGUAGE WILL BE REWRITTEN BY LAW ANYWAY.
SO IF YOU, SO YOU DON'T NEED TO WORDSMITH IT COMPLETELY, JUST SAY WHAT YOUR INTENT WOULD BE AND WE CAN WORK WITH THAT.
SO THEN MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTENT IS THAT THEY WANT THE DE UH, BOARD MEMBER REED WANTS IT TO BE AMENDED TO THE DEFAULT TO BE TWO TO ONE WITH THE OPTION THAT, UH, THE APPLICANT AND THE DIRECTOR COLLABORATE FOR 1 0 1 RESTORATION WERE NECESSARY AS DETERMINED BY FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF FLOODPLAIN HEALTH.
I THINK THE INTENT IS ACTUALLY WHERE THE DIRECTOR AND, UH, THE APPLICANT COLLABORATE FOR ANYTHING BELOW TWO TO ONE WITH ONE TO ONE BEING THE FLOOR, THE LOWEST YOU COULD GO.
SO YOU COULD HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE AND A HALF TO ONE OR SOMETHING SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.
BUT WITH THE STANDARD BEING TWO TO ONE, THE YES.
WITH THE GOAL OF ALWAYS BEING TWO TO ONE, DOES THAT MAKE, IS EVERYONE TRACKING WHAT THE INTENT IS? THE INTENT IS, UH, THE START AT TWO TO ONE WITH THE OPTION THAT THE APPLICANT AND THE DIRECTOR OF WATERSHED COLLABORATE FOR 1 0 1 MINIMUM RESTORATION WHERE NECESSARY.
I'M GONNA OFFER THAT IT'S CLEAR TO STAFF AND DIRECTOR NEELY ALSO WANTS TO SAY THAT'S CLEAR TO PART, BUT THAT YOUR INTENT IS CLEAR.
IS EVERYONE ON BOARD? IS IS ANY BOARD MEMBER? OKAY.
UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM ON THIS AMENDMENT? I WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE THE ONE-TO-ONE RATIO INCLUDED IN HERE.
DON'T YOU NEED A MINIMUM THOUGH? IF YOU DON'T PUT A MINIMUM, IT BECOMES JUST AN ALTERNATIVE, RIGHT? THAT'S TRUE.
YEAH, THAT WAS SORT OF MY CONCERN WAS IF YOU DON'T INCLUDE SOMETHING, IT JUST, YOU HAVE NO FLOOR BUT ZERO.
AND I THINK TO ADD TO THE FACT THAT THIS CODE OF METIN IS TO HELP PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR THESE CIP APPLICATIONS, YOU KNOW, HAVING A MINIMUM FLOOR WOULD, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD KIND OF PLAN FOR WORST CASE SCENARIO WHAT THE RESERVATION REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE AS PART OF A CIP PROJECT.
AND I, AND I WANNA MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, I THINK THE INTENT OF THIS, AT LEAST I WILL BE, I WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE NOT TO OR LIKES TO HONOR WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL'S OFFICE FEEDBACK WAS, WHICH IS THEY WANT THE ABILITY TO BE FLEX, TO BE FLEXIBLE.
SO THAT IS MY CAVEAT AS AN INDIVIDUAL ON THE BOARD.
UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, I, I,
[02:25:01]
I ALSO JUST WANT THE, THE GOAL STILL TO BE TWO TO ONE, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING THINGS HARDER AND TAKE MORE TIME.AND OF COURSE, WE'RE THINKING OF THE NONPROFIT AND THEIR, THEIR FUNDS AND ALL OF THAT.
AND SO, UM, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE GOAL BE, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANTLY STATED AS FIRST.
SO,
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA TAKE A VOTE.
I'LL TAKE IT BY VOTE, UH, BY HAND VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT, UH, PROPOSED BY BOARD MEMBER REED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR FLOWERS? I THINK WE NEED TO, UM, AMEND FOR, TO SET AT A MAXIMUM WIDTH FOR THE TRAIL.
SO I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT A MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 20 FEET.
CAN I GET SOME CLARITY ON YOUR PROPOSAL? SINCE THE LANGUAGE, I ASSUME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THAT'S LIMITED TO 12 FEET IN WIDTH, PLUS ONE FOOT COMPACTED SUBGRADE SHOULDERS, UNLESS A WIDER TRAIL IS DESIGNATED IN A COUNCIL ADOPTED PLAN, OR THE TRAIL IS A PART OF THE ANN AND ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL SYSTEM, UM, YOU'RE INTENDING TO PUT SOMETHING IN THERE THAT WOULD LIMIT TO 20 FEET, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL SYSTEM.
INCLUDE A MAXIMUM WIDTH FOR THE TRAIL OF 20 FEET, AS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY SPONSORED SAFETY AND MOBILITY REPORT.
ARE THERE ANY PARTS OF THE TRAIL THAT ARE WIDER THAN 20 FEET? NOW, YOU COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER? I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES TO SAY THAT.
UH, YES, THERE ARE SECTIONS OF THE TRAIL, UH, THAT ARE OVER 20 FEET.
DO YOU HAVE SOME EXAMPLES? I HAVE SOME IDEAS IN MY HEAD, BUT I WOULD LOVE JUST A CONCRETE EXAMPLE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT, IF WE CAN BRING UP MY PRESENTATION.
I ACTUALLY HOPED YOU WOULD ASK THIS QUESTION.
SO THESE ARE SOME PICTURES THAT YOU CAN SEE JUST VISUALLY, THAT THEY'RE QUITE WIDE.
THEY INCLUDE THE UNDERPASS UNDER, UM, SOUTH FIRST BRIDGE, UM, OVERTON, UH, ULMA, OVERTON SHORES, FORMERLY LAMAR BEACH, UH, THE SOUTH SHORE AT MOPAC, AND THEN AUDITORIUM SHORES.
UM, AND THEN DOING JUST SOME MEASUREMENTS, UH, WITH A DESKTOP REVIEW.
UH, THIS SECTION IS AT THE STATESMAN SITE, SO YOU CAN SEE IT RANGES FROM 14 TO 1626 FEET.
UM, THIS AREA IS AT ULMA OVERTON SHORES, WHICH RANGES FROM A LITTLE OVER 17, ALMOST 17 AND A HALF FEET TO 24 AND A HALF FEET.
UM, AND THEN THIS AREA IS FESTIVAL BEACH, JUST EAST OF I 35.
UM, SO A LITTLE BIT OVER 20 FEET.
AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I HAVE RUN MANY MARATHONS IN THE CITY, LOTS OF TRAINING MILES ON THAT TRAIL.
AND THERE THE WIDTH VARIES CONSIDERABLY ACROSS ALL OF IT.
SO I, I FEEL YOUR PAIN, LET'S JUST PUT IT THAT WAY.
AND BOARD MEMBERS, I FORGOT IF IF TO GET A SECOND ON BOARD MEMBER READS, UH, AMENDMENT, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
IS THERE A SECOND? DID WE, DID WE DO A SECOND? NO, I THOUGHT WE DID.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A SECOND FROM BOARD MEMBER MERIT ON BOARD MEMBER READS.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? UM, OR DEBATE? SO IN THE, IN THE 2015 BUTLER TRAIL, UM, THE URBAN FOREST, UH, STUDY THAT WAS DONE BY THE SIGLO GROUP IN 2015 FOR THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, UM, ON PAGE 64, UM, THERE IS A MAXIMUM 14 FOOT GUIDELINE FOR TRAILS FOR THIS TRAIL.
AND, UM, SO I'M THINKING THAT PUTTING A MAXIMUM, MAXIMUM OF 20 FEET, AND CAN WE SOMEHOW SAY THAT THIS IS FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS? UH, IT YOUR MOTION.
UM,
AND SO PART OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS MAYBE WOULD BE TO HAVE THE TRAIL MORE
[02:30:01]
DESIGNATED AS ONLY 20 FEET WIDE.WHERE DO YOU SEE THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE WIDER THAN 20 FEET? WELL, I MEAN, FOR WHAT REASON? IT'S NOT RECOMMENDED IN EITHER OF THE DOCUMENTS.
I, I THINK ONE OF THE THING, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO COMMENT ON, WHICH IS THAT, UM, FOR ME, THE WAY I SEE THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PRO, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT ISN'T NECESSARILY A MATTER OF, UH, FOR ME AT THE, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY DOING TO THE TRAIL THAT'S CAU LIKE, THAT'S CAUSING THE COMMUNITY IS THE ONE THAT'S CAUSING THE TRAIL TO EXPAND VIA THE USAGE, VIA THE TRAFFIC THAT IS OCCURRING THERE.
SO FOR ME, I KIND OF LIKE VIEW THIS AS LIKE THE, THE, LIKE IT'S A, IT'S A PROBLEM DISNEY HAS, WHICH IS LIKE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A SOMETHING CALLED LIKE THE DESIRED, LIKE THE, THE, THE LAID DOWN PATH AND THERE'S A DESIRED PATH.
UM, THE COMMUNITY HAS CLEARLY SAID LIKE, THIS IS THE DESIRED PATH AND THAT'S WHY IT KEEPS WIDENING.
SO AT LEAST FOR ME, I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO LIMIT US AT THIS TIME TO THOSE THAT 20 FEET, BECAUSE MY WORRY IS, IS THAT IF THE COMMUNITY'S GOING TO KEEP EXPANDING IT VIA USAGE, THAT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE AND A FEW YEARS DOWN THE LINE, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE BACK HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
SO THAT'S MY ONLY FEAR WITH THE, WITH YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
AND THAT KIND OF MAKES ME HAVE RESENT TO SUPPORT IT.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HARD SURFACE TRAIL, AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE TRAIL HAS, HAS BECOME INFORMALLY MORE THAN 20 FEET IS NOT A HARD SURFACE TRAIL.
ARE THERE ANY CONCRETE AREAS OF THE TRAIL THAT HAVE BEEN PAVED LARGER THAN 20 FEET? AND DO WE HAVE PLANS FOR PAVEMENT AREAS OF THE TRAIL LARGER THAN 20 FEET? UM, I, I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PLANS TO PAVE ANYTHING OVER 20 FEET.
UM, IT, IT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ANY SECTIONS OF TRAIL THAT ARE OVER 20 FEET RIGHT NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE.
BUT IF THEY NEED TO BE IMPROVED AND THEY ARE REVIEWED UNDER THE SITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH CURRENT CODE.
SO RIGHT NOW, IT WOULDN'T MEAN THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT COMPLIANT OR PAVE IT OR DO ANYTHING.
IF IT'S NON-COMPLIANT, YOU DON'T TOUCH IT.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE CODE AMENDMENT WAS TO BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE
THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS.
AS SOON AS YOU START TO IMPROVE IT, IT'S COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODE IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, NEW PROJECTS ALONG THE TRAIL THAT ARE BEING PLANNED, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO THIS CODE AMENDMENT.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SAY WE SHOULD HAVE A LIMIT OF 20 FEET.
THE MOTION, UH, ON THE FLOOR IS TO AMEND VICE SHARE FLOWERS'.
MOTION TO INCLUDE, UH, WITH THE, UH, WITH THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF LIMITING, UM, THE ANN ANDROY BUTLER HIKING BIKE TRAIL SYSTEM TO, UH, TRAIL TO 20 FEET MAXIMUM WIDTH, MAXIMUM WIDTH OF 20 FEET.
AT THIS TIME I'LL TAKE A VOTE.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE ABSTAINING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THERE'S ONE PERSON THAT DIDN'T VOTE UNLESS I COUNTED IT WRONG.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE ABSTAINING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND VICE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO VICE CHAIR FLOWERS'? MOTION? UM, THAT WAS 3 4 2.
THE, UM, OUR, THE OPTION FOR THE PARKS BOARD TO, TO, UM, BRING UP SOME SORT OF AN AMENDMENT REGARDING, UM, THE SUBSTANCE USED FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THE TRAIL.
IN OTHER WORDS, UM, FOR US TO PERHAPS HAVE AN AMENDMENT IN HERE REGARDING THE USE OF DECOMPOSED GRANITE AS THE TRAIL CURRENTLY EXISTS AS OPPOSED TO MORE PAVING AND CONCRETE.
SO I GUESS JUST FROM A, AND I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN CODE, BUT I DO HAVE A POLICY DEGREE.
SO FROM THE WAY THIS CODE IS WRITTEN THOUGH,
[02:35:01]
IT'S A HARD SURFACE TRAIL ALREADY SPECIFIED.SO HOW WOULD WE CARVE OUT CONCRETE IN THE CODE? 'CAUSE IT INCLUDES, UM, SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO, THE INTENT IS TO KIND OF HAVE CODE LANGUAGE SPECIFIC TO THE BUTLER TRAIL.
AND SO IF THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE LIMITS THE MATERIAL, THE SURFACE MATERIAL TO A CERTAIN TYPE, UM, I WOULD SAY WE PROBABLY DO NEED SOME FLEXIBILITY FOR AREAS THAT ARE ERODING OR, OR VICE VERSA OR, YOU KNOW, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT IF THE INTENT IS TO KEEP IT IN GENERAL DECOMPOSED GRANITE, WE CAN WORK WITH THAT WITH LAW AND WE CAN MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR.
SO IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A MORE EXTENSIVE CODE AMENDMENT THOUGH, 'CAUSE HARD SURFACE TRAIL WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC PERHAPS? YEAH, I MEAN IT WOULD BE CLEARLY LAID OUT SOMEWHERE.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS, CAN, CAN YOU STATE YOUR INTENT AGAIN? UH, BOARD MEMORY? THE INTENT IS TO, UM, TO KEEP THE SECTIONS OF THE TRAIL THAT ARE CURRENTLY NATURAL, UM, PERVIOUS, DECOMPOSED GRANITE AREAS OF THE TRAIL, UM, TO MAKE THE BEST EFFORT TO, TO PERPETUATE THAT, TO KEEP THOSE AREAS OF THE TRAIL THAT WAY AS OPPOSED TO SUBSTITUTING CONCRETE OR ASPHALT FOR THOSE AREAS OF THE TRAIL.
IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? OKAY.
WAIT, NO, I, I DO HAVE, I DO HAVE A YES MEMBER.
JUST A COMMENT BECAUSE, UM, BOARD MEMBER FLOWERS JUST SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEING THE MORE EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED A CLARIFICATION.
I WAS LIKE, HOW IS THAT? OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DEBATE, DISCUSSION? I WOULD JUST ADD THAT I FEEL LIKE THE, THIS IS THE INTENT GOING BACK TO THE FOUNDATION OF THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL.
UM, I BROUGHT THIS BOOK, EVERY TOWN NEEDS A TRAIL IN WHICH MANY PEOPLE, FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS AND OTHERS, UM, HAVE THEIR STORIES ABOUT THE TRAIL.
THE TRAIL WAS ESTABLISHED AS A NATURAL TRAIL AND TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, I REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO KEEP THE TRAIL NATURAL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, MOVING THROUGH AN AREA, THE, THE DECOMPOSED GRANITE OR THE NATURAL TRAIL MATERIAL IS BETTER FOR THE TREES, FOR THE CRITICAL ROOT ZONES FOR LADY BIRD LAKE.
AND FOR, I BELIEVE FOR RUNNERS, I AM A RUNNER.
UM, I THINK THAT RUNNERS WOULD BE APPALLED TO SEE MORE OF THE ONE PLACE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO AND RUN ON A NOT CONCRETE OR ASPHALT SERVICE THAT IS AWAY FROM TRAFFIC IS THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL IN THE CENTER OF DOWNTOWN.
AND SO TO PROTECT THAT NATURAL MATERIAL THAT IS MORE LIKE A NATURAL TRAIL SHOULD BE A REALLY, UM, A STRONG PART OF WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND FOR THE BUTLER TRAIL.
I HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, NOT SOMETHING DIRECTOR MCNEELY SAID EARLIER, JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD IT.
SO, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WOULD STILL NEED TO GO THROUGH AN APPROVAL PROCESS FOR ANY PAVING.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, LARGE PROJECT GONNA PAVE OVER A WHOLE SECTION OF THE TRAIL THAT'S CURRENTLY DECOMPOSED GRANITE.
THAT WOULD REQUIRE GOING THROUGH AN APPROVAL PROCESS.
IT COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED UNDER THIS EXISTING CHANGE.
AND SO I'M JUST RESTATING MY UNDERSTANDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS CORRECT.
WHAT THIS WOULD ALLOW THE GROUPS TO DO IS PAVE OVER SECTIONS WHERE THERE MIGHT BE EROSION OR OTHER MAJOR SORT OF WASHOUT EVENTS IN SMALL AREAS, NOT TO REPAVE WHOLE SECTIONS AS PART OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE RESPOND TO THAT? SO I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE INTENT.
IF IT'S GENERAL MAINTENANCE, YOU CAN DO GENERAL MAINTENANCE WITHOUT AN APPROVAL PROCESS.
IF THIS IS A, THIS, AS I UNDERSTAND THIS, THIS IS A GENERAL OWED AMENDMENT SO THAT CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO THE TRAIL DON'T HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE MITIGATION IS AT THE END.
AND I, I THINK THAT THE WAY THAT OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION COLLEAGUES EXPLAIN THIS, THIS IS, THIS ISN'T A, A AMENDMENT THAT TALKS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TYPE OF SURFACE.
THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THE SURFACE TYPE.
SO I THINK WE MIGHT BE GETTING INTO THE WEEDS, UH, RELATED TO SURFACE TYPE.
[02:40:01]
NOT EVEN PART OF THE CODE AMENDMENT.IF I'M WRONG, WATERSHED, PLEASE CORRECT ME.
I ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER CLARIFYING QUESTIONS BECAUSE I DON'T DISAGREE ABOUT THE WEEDS AND WHETHER WE'RE IN THEM OR NOT.
IT'S REALLY OUR CHOICE WE GOT GOT HERE.
SO, UM, MY LAST QUESTION THOUGH IS JUST MAKING SURE I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.
IF THERE'S GENERAL MAINTENANCE BEING DONE ON THE TRAIL THAT WOULD REQUIRE PAVING A SECTION THAT HAS ERODED, IS TRAIL CONSERVANCY WORKING WITH WATERSHED PROTECTION ON THAT? OR IS TRAIL CONSERVANCY OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY TO DO THAT? TRAIL CONSERVANCY WOULD BE WORKING WITH ALL OF US ALL.
SO IT WOULD BE ALL OF US, ALL BOTH PARKS DEPARTMENT, WATERSHED PROTECTION AND TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
WOULD JOINTLY BE MAKING A DECISION.
SO TRAIL CONSERVANCY COULDN'T SAY TO YOU, WE'RE GONNA PAVE THIS SECTION THAT'S ERODED WITHOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION.
WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.
THAT THEY'RE, THEY ARE, WELL THEY ARE OUR PARTNER.
THEY'RE NOT INDEPENDENT, THEY DON'T OPERATE INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY THEY OPERATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH.
SO THAT THINGS THAT THEY WILL BE DOING ON THE TRAIL WOULD BE DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH BOTH US AND WATERSHED PROTECTION.
THE REASON I BROUGHT THIS UP IS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THIS, UM, IS GOVERNING A HARD SURFACE TRAIL IN THE CODE, UM, WATERSHED, AND, UH, YOU ALL TOLD ME THAT ANY TRAIL WIDER THAN SIX FEET IS, IS SUBJECT TO THIS PARTICULAR CODE OF NOT BEING ALLOWED IN THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE AREA.
AND IT IS ADMITTEDLY CONFUSING.
UM, THE, THE REASON WHY THAT INTERPRETATION EXISTS IS BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY PRO, THE ONLY PLACE THAT, UM, A TRAIL CAN BE, THE ONLY TIME A TRAIL CAN BE LOCATED PARALLEL TO A WATERWAY, YOU KNOW, IN THE INNER HALF OF THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE IS IF IT'S A SIX FOOT WIDE NATURE TRAIL AND THEN THE CODE SPEAKS TO ANY OTHER TRAIL, UM, THAT IS GREATER THAN THAT, UH, INCLUDING HARD SURFACE TRAILS HAS TO BE LIMITED TO 12 FEET AND IN, IN THE OUTER HALF.
AND SO IT WAS REALLY NOT, IT DOESN'T REALLY DESCRIBE THE BUTLER TRAIL AT ALL.
SO WE'RE WRITING CODE LANGUAGE THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THE BUTLER TRAIL, SO THANK YOU.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THE BUTLER TRAIL IS NOT A HARD SURFACE TRAIL.
CORRECT? I THINK IT WAS 6.6 MILES OUT OF 17 MILES.
THE VAST MAJORITY IS DECOMPOSED GRANITE.
AND YET WE ARE WORKING ON A CODE AMENDMENT TO A HARD SURFACE TRAIL SECTION OF THE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY ZONE DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT, THE CODE WOULD NOT REQUIRE THEM TO PAVE IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE, UM, ALLOWED.
UM, AND WE CAN WORK WITH LAW TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ALSO CLEAR.
BUT, UM, IF THE CODE AMENDMENT WERE TO PASS, IT WOULDN'T, WE WOULDN'T SAY, WELL YOU CAN'T PUT THIS DECOMPOSED CRAN TRAIL, YOU HAVE TO PAVE IT.
UM, IT WOULD BE THE LESS IMPACT, YOU KNOW, THE THEY WOULD, WE WOULD ALLOW THE LESS IMPACTED IMPACTFUL MATERIAL, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
I'M KIND OF, WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THE OPPOSITE OF WANTING TO PAVE THE TRAIL, WANTING TO PAVE THE TRAIL FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY DECOMPOSED GRANITE AND TO HAVE MORE OF AN INTENTION REGARDING THE MATERIAL.
SO, SO BOARD MEMBERS, JUST AS WE HAD SPOKEN BEFORE, ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THAT NATURE WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO BE AGREED UPON BY WATERSHED, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT AFFILIATED IN THEIR ORGANIZATION, BUT I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEIR INTENTION IS TO COME AND REPAVE ALL OF LADY BIRD LAKE TRAIL.
THEY, THEY HAVE, UH, THEIR OWN MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND CONNECT THAT NATURAL SPACE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THEIR INTENTION.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT ANY PAVED AREAS WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY FOR, UH, SOME PURPOSE THAT WOULD EITHER HELP EROSION OR, OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
AND IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, HAVING THOSE DEEP CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT MAKES SENSE THAT THAT WOULD BE THE INTENTION.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME FEAR OR SOME CONCERN, UH, OR THIS IS A CHALLENGE TO GET OVER.
BUT, BUT I AM TELLING YOU THAT FROM, FROM WHERE I SIT, THAT IS HOW THE RELATIONSHIP WORKS.
IT'S, IT'S COMPLETE CONVERSATION.
IT'S ALWAYS CONVERSATION, COLLABORATION AND DECISION MAKING THAT'S COLLECTIVE, UH, BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS, THE TWO CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? DISCUSSION, ANYTHING? I JUST WANNA ADD, I GUESS FOR THE TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS, I COMPLETELY
[02:45:01]
AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD BE LEFT NATURAL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.I DO WORRY THAT ADDING LANGUAGE, RESTRICTING, UM, OR TRYING TO ADD ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE THAT WOULD SPECIFY A CERTAIN TYPE OF MATERIAL WOULD MAYBE KIND OF BLOAT THE BLOAT THE CODE LANGUAGE AND MAYBE, IF ANYTHING, OBSCURE THE INTENT.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT IS AIMED AT, UM, STREAMLINING THE PROCESS FOR THESE PROJECTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE ADD SOME KIND OF LANGUAGE THAT REQUIRES MAINTAINING DECOMPOSED GRANITE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, IF THE INTENT OF THE CIP PLAN IS TO HELP PREVENT OR REDUCE EROSION, YOU KNOW, WHICH MAY REQUIRE ARMORING PORTIONS OF A TRAIL, YOU KNOW, WITH A HARD SURFACE PAVEMENT, THAT THAT WOULD KIND OF OBSCURE THE INTENT, YOU KNOW, OR MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO HAVE THOSE EROSION IMPROVEMENTS PUT IN PLACE.
SO I FEEL LIKE, UM, AGAIN, THE SUMMARY IS MAYBE ADDING ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE TO TRY AND RESTRICT OR DIRECT MATERIAL USAGE AT THIS STAGE WOULD JUST BE CONFUSING, UM, IN THE LONG RUN AS AN ENTITY IS COMING IN SEEKING TO GET PLAN APPROVAL.
UM, BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN, THIS I'M MAKING THIS AMENDMENT PER SUGGESTION OF WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO MAKE A SUGGESTION REGARDING THE MATERIALS USED SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CO LANGUAGE THAT GOVERNS SPECIFICALLY THE ANNE AND ROY BUTLER HY AND BIKE TRAIL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DEBATE BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY, AT THIS TIME WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON BOARD MEMBER REED'S, UH, PROPOSED, UH, AMENDMENT.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
IS THERE ANY OTHER, UH, AMENDMENTS TO THE MOTION MADE BY VICE FLOWERS? OKAY, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP THE MAIN MOTION THEN AND THE MAIN MOTION, UM, WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT, THAT, THAT'S BEEN ATTACHED IN REGARDS TO RESTORATION.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR ANY FURTHER DEBATE.
ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALL OF THOSE OPPOSED? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, ALRIGHT, WE ARE NOW GONNA TAKE A BREAK.
UH, WE'LL COME BACK AT NINE O'CLOCK, UM, AND WITHOUT ANY OPPOSITION, WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE NEXT, AND THEN PICK, AND THEN COME BACK TO NUMBER FOUR.
UM, NUMBER FIVE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WAITING TO, UH, SPEAK ON IT.
WE HAVE 11 PEOPLE WAITING TO SPEAK ON IT.
AND THEN NUMBER FOUR, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT ONE TONIGHT.
SO, ANY OBJECTION? I DON'T HEAR ANY.
UH, WELL, WE'RE ADJOURNING, WE'LL RECONVENE AT NINE O'CLOCK.
OKAY, EVERYONE, IT IS NOW NINE O'CLOCK.
UH, WE'RE BACK FROM OUR RECESS.
UM, AT THIS TIME WE ARE MOVING
[5. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council related to an application received by the City to rename the Barton Springs Bathhouse to the Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool. ]
ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.AND I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL, UM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. BECK.
UH, YES, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH IN-PERSON, SPEAKERS.
UH, THE FIRST ONE WILL BE STEVEN BROWN, FOLLOWED BY TERRY ADAMS. STEVEN BROWN.
HI, I AM TERRY ADAMS. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
UM, SO, UH, WHEN I WATCH OLD VIDEOS OF BARTON SPRINGS, UM, I SEE IMAGES, UM, IT'S A WHITE PLACE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIKE SOME RAGTIME MUSIC, WHICH IS IRONIC, OR SOME STEVEN STEVEN FOSTER TUNE, UM, PLAYED.
AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE, UM, IT'S SO AWKWARD AND CRINGE BECAUSE, UH, IT'S NOSTALGIA FOR A TIME WHEN BARTON SPRINGS WAS SEGREGATED.
AND, UM, SO I GREW UP IN THIS AREA.
UM, THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT OR KNEW ABOUT.
[02:50:01]
UH, TAUGHT TO ME IN ANY OF THE EDUCATION, UM, THAT, UH, THAT I RECEIVED ABOUT BARTON SPRINGS OR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BATHHOUSE OR ANYTHING, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.SO AS AN ADULT, I LEARNED ABOUT THE COURAGEOUS PROTEST THAT JONES JOAN MEANS CABBEL, UM, INITIATED AS A TEENAGER.
UM, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD THING, UM, THAT WE COULD DO TO SHOW THAT WE HONOR PEOPLE WHO STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND ALSO A WAY OF LIKE, UH, CELEBRATING THAT WE ARE WILLING TO RECKON WITH THE PAST AND WE ARE WILLING TO CHANGE THE, UM, CHANGE THE STORY.
UM, AND, UH, SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU'LL VOTE FOR THIS.
I KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER OPTIONS THAT SOME PEOPLE LIKE MORE, BUT LIKE THERE IS A REAL COMMUNITY, UM, CONSENSUS ON THIS.
AND, UM, I DO THINK THAT YOU NEED TO HONOR THAT.
AND, UM, I WOULD PERSONALLY BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY IF THIS PASSES.
NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE PATRICIA BOBBECK.
UH, OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CHERYL COLLINS.
IS CHERYL COLLINS HERE? AFTER THAT, IT'LL BE PALSA CABBEL CABBEL STEVENS.
AFTER PALSA WILL BE ALEXANDER LAJA.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ISSA CABBEL STEVENS.
AND, UM, I'M ONE OF THE GRANDCHILDREN OF JOAN CABBEL.
JOAN MEANS CABBEL AND I GREW UP SWIMMING IN BARTON SPRINGS.
UM, AND WITHOUT HER EFFORTS OF DESEGREGATING BARTON SPRINGS, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SWIM THERE TODAY.
AND I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF Y'ALL DID PASS THIS AND HER HONOR, BECAUSE SHE WAS VERY STRONG AND RESILIENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ALEXANDER LAJA.
JE AFTER ALEXANDER WILL BE EDI CABBEL STEVENS.
ALRIGHT, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA SPEAK TODAY, BUT, UH, I GUESS I'M GONNA WING IT.
UM,
THAT IS MY PARTNER RIGHT THERE.
WE OFTEN HAVE CONVERSATIONS PERTAINING TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT, UM, SHE ALWAYS TELLS ME THAT SHE HAS BIG SHOES TO FILL AND HER GRANDMOTHER, UH, JOAN MEANS WAS A, WAS A BIG PLAYER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS FOR THAT.
UM, SO I'M HERE FOR SUPPORT, DIDN'T WANT TO REALLY SPEAK, BUT I'M HERE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE TI CABBEL STEVENS, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT COBB.
OKAY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, PERFECT.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS TI CABBEL STEVENS AND I'M TURNING 29 THIS SPRING AND GREW UP HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY IN FAVOR OF RENAMING THE BARNES SPRINGS WOMEN'S BATHHOUSE IN HONOR OF THE LATE AND GREAT JOAN MEANS KABEL, WHO IS MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO I AND MY SIBLINGS AND THE REST OF OUR FAMILY REFER TO AS GOGO.
UM, I REMEMBER HER AS A POWERFUL FORCE WHO WAS NEVER AFRAID TO SHARE HER OPINION OR SPEAK HER MIND.
I'M ALSO HERE ON BEHALF OF HER LATE MOTHER, BERTHA MEANS, WHO IS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN DESEGREGATING AUSTIN, HER HUSBAND, SIKA CABBEL, WHO IS INTEGRAL IN FIGHTING AGAINST APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA.
UM, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF HER CHILDREN, DYO I AND THE LATE BEL, WHO ALSO GREW UP IN AUSTIN.
AND THEN FINALLY, I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE, UM, GRANDCHILDREN OF WHICH I'M THE OLDEST.
SHE HAD EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN IN TOTAL.
AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY BARNES SPRINGS BECAUSE OF HER HEROIC ACTS AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
SO I, LIKE EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN AUSTIN, ENJOY THE BEAUTY AND MAGIC OF MAGIC OF BARNES SPRINGS.
IT'S UNDENIABLE THAT IT IS GORGEOUS, AND THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE WE CAN SEE ALL TYPES OF AUSTINITES THERE.
BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS THAT WAY.
AND IT WASN'T THAT WAY UNTIL MY GRANDMOTHER WAS THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO JUMP IN BARN SPRINGS AS AN ACT OF RESILIENCE.
AND THAT WAS NOT MY GRANDMOTHER'S ONLY ACT OF RESILIENCE.
SHE WAS AMONG THE GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO DESEGREGATED AUSTIN, UM, AUSTIN HIGH.
IT WAS THERE THAT SHE LED STUDENTS FROM AUSTIN HIGH UT ST.
EDWARDS AND HOUSTON TILSON AND PROTEST OF THE SEGREGATION OF BARNES SPRINGS IN THE SUMMER OF 1960, OR IN THE SUMMERS OF 1960S.
SO I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO RENAME THE BATHHOUSE IN HER HONOR BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AUSTINITES.
AND TO TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER, NOT ACKNOWLEDGING AUSTIN'S HISTORY
[02:55:01]
IN REGARDS TO RACISM AND SEGREGATION, AND THOSE WHO FOUGHT AGAINST IT, CONTRIBUTE TO THE GENTRIFICATION AND THE ERASURE OF BLACK PEOPLE IN AUSTIN.NAMING THE BATHHOUSES AFTER MY GRANDMOTHER, JOAN MEAN COBEL MEANS COBEL HONORS.
ONE, THE BRAVE ACTIONS OF A YOUNG BLACK FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO CARRIED THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF SOMEONE FAR BEYOND HER YEARS.
AND TWO, REMINDS US THAT CHANGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF BLACK AUSTIN AND AUSTIN AS A WHOLE IS POSSIBLE.
UH, BEFORE I END, I WANT TO THANK SCOTT FOR HIS EFFORT IN LEADING THIS.
I HOPE THAT SHE WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF RENAMING THE BATHHOUSE AFTER JOAN MEANS CABBEL EARN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SCOTT COBB, FOLLOWED BY THERESA GARCIA.
MY NAME IS SCOTT COBB AND I AM REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE GRANDCHILDREN OF, UH, JOAN.
THEY APPEAR TO BE SIMILARLY AGE IN AGE AS JOAN WAS WHEN SHE, UH, ORGANIZED HER FRIENDS TEENAGERS, UH, NOT JUST AT AUSTIN HIGH, BUT AT UTA HOUSTON TILLSON ST.
EDWARDS TO GO TO BARTON SPRINGS BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN DENIED ENTRANCE DURING THEIR SENIOR PICNIC.
MET WITH THE PRINCIPAL OF AUSTIN HIGH AND THEY MADE A PLAN AND THEY CARRIED IT OUT.
SO I SEE HER INFLUENCE OF THOSE, UH, GRANDKIDS US TODAY.
WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH COURAGE IT TOOK IN 1960 TO DO WHAT JOAN DID.
UM, I I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN HOUSTON IN 1980 AND I WORKED AT A PRIVATE POOL.
WE HAD A DAY WHERE SOMEBODY BROUGHT SOME BLACK KIDS TO THE POOL AND OUR MANAGER AND THE OWNERS CLOSED THE POOL AND SENT EVERYBODY HOME.
WE CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND SAID, WE'RE ON STRIKE.
IT TOOK COURAGE TO OVERCOME THAT VIOLENCE.
THERE WAS A PHOTO SWIM POOLS WERE ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS AREAS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS CONFLICT.
FLORIDA AND TEXAS ARE ONE OF THE SEVEN FOUNDERS OF THE CONFEDERACY HAVE SIMILAR HISTORICAL AND CURRENT AFFAIRS.
SOMEONE POURED ASSET TO KEEP THOSE KIDS OUT OF THE POOL.
I MENTIONED I WAS AT THAT POOL IN IN HOUSTON.
I SAW THE ANGUISH ON THOSE KIDS' FACES WHEN THEY WERE SENT HOME.
I SAW THE CONFUSION AND I FELT THE SHAME.
I JUST WANNA POINT OUT ALSO THAT, UH, CURRENTLY ALL THE NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH BARTON SPRINGS ARE WHITE MEN, EVEN ASIDE BARTON WILLIAM BARTON HIMSELF, BUT ALL THE ONES, UH, WHOSE NAMES LIKE THE, UH, BEVERLY SHEFFIELD, A WHITE MAN, ART DIRECTOR FROM 46 AND 73, THE PHILOSOPHERS ROCK, THREE WHITE MEN.
THEY WERE ABLE TO GO SWIM FROM 1918 TO 59, 63, 64 WHEN THEY DIED.
AND BUSTER ROBINSON, WHO WORKED THERE UP UNTIL 1961, ALL WHITE PEOPLE.
ALL WHITE MEN WHO COULD DIVERSIFY, WHO WE HONOR AT BARTON SPRINGS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS THERESA GARCIA.
AFTER THERESA WILL BE TU MILO, CABBEL STEVENS, THANK YOU PARKS BOARD.
UM, I FEEL REALLY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND TO BE IN THE SAME SPACE WITH JOAN MEANS CAB'S, GRANDCHILDREN.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO STEVE COBB, WHO BEGAN THIS INITIATIVE TO LIFT UP HER NAME AND MAKE IT A PERMANENT REMINDER OF HER LEGACY AND HER STRENGTH AND HER COURAGE.
I'M AS HERE ALSO AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF ST.
UM, I'M A VESTRY MEMBER AND I'M ALSO HERE WITH ANOTHER VESTRY MEMBER.
AND I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME WORDS FROM OUR PRIEST, REVEREND EILEEN.
I AM IN FAVOR OF NAMING THE BARTON SPRINGS BATH HOUSE.
AFTER JOAN MEAN MEANS CABBEL, JOAN MEANS CABBEL DIED IN 2021, BUT HER LEGACY LIVES
[03:00:01]
ON IN SO MANY CORNERS OF AUSTIN, INCLUDING ST.JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH, THE HISTORIC BLACK EPISCOPAL CHURCH WHERE I AM A MEMBER.
AND JOAN CARRIED ON THE LEGACY OF HER PARENTS'.
BERTHA SADDLER MEANS A KEY AUSTIN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, AND JAMES MEANS A PROFESSOR AT HOUSTON TILLSON UNIVERSITY.
BUT SHE HAD HER OWN VOICE IN LEADING WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN.
AUSTIN DOES NOT HAVE MANY PLACES NAMED FOR THE COURAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND ALTHOUGH JONES ENTIRE LIFE WAS DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS, TO BR TO BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO WORK FOR JUSTICE AND TO EDUCATION, THE IDEA OF NAMING BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE FOR A PERSON WHO AS A BLACK TEENAGER SPARKED A MOVEMENT TOWARD JUSTICE IS EXCITING.
IT MEANS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND IT MEANS THAT BLACK YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE IN AUSTIN.
JOAN WAS AMONG THE THIRD GROUP OF STUDENTS TO INTEGRATE AUSTIN HIGH IN THE LATE 1950S.
IN HER SENIOR YEAR, AFTER NOT BEING ALLOWED TO SWIM AT HER HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PICNIC, SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO JUMP INTO BARTON SPRINGS POOL IN AN ACT OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.
IN DOING SO, SHE LED A MOVEMENT OF SWIM INS THAT TOOK PLACE ON A WEEKLY BASIS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER OF 1960.
AND SPEAKING WITH OTHERS WHO GREW UP WITH HER AT ST.
JAMES, IT IS CLEAR THAT SHE WAS AN INSPIRATION AND A LEADER AMONG HER PEERS.
I HOPE YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF RENAMING THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE AFTER JOAN MEANS CAB.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE TULO CAB STEVENS.
UM, I WASN'T REALLY PLANNING ON SPEAKING TONIGHT.
I JUST GOT OFF OF WORK AND CAME STRAIGHT OVER HERE.
BUT I THINK IT, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO PASS, UH, TO APPROVE ON THIS VOTE.
UM, I REMEMBER RECENTLY I WENT TO BARNING SPRINGS AND I WAS JUST INQUIRING ABOUT, 'CAUSE THEY, THEY PUT UP THE, THE PLAQUES WITH ALL THE HISTORY OF BARN SPRINGS.
AND I WAS JUST INQUIRING ABOUT MY OWN GRANDMOTHER.
AND WHEN I ASKED AND SAID HER NAME, THE STAFF JUST GAVE ME COMPLETELY BLANK LOOKS.
AND IT'S NOT THEIR JOB NECESSARILY TO KNOW ALL THE HISTORY, BUT, UM, HER NAME IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BARN SPRINGS, UM, TO WHAT IT IS NOW, TO THE DIVERSITY THAT YOU SEE THAT IS ALLOWED THERE TODAY.
SO I THINK IT IS, IT WOULD, WE SHOULD HONOR HER NAME.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE PRESENT THAT WANTS TO ADDRESS THE PARKS BOARD ON THIS ITEM? THAT'S THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
GOOD EVENING PARKS BOARD MEMBERS, KIMBERLY MCNEELY, SERVING AS THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
SO I'M HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU INFORMATION RELATED TO, UH, THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE RENAMING PROPOSAL.
AS YOU ARE AWARE THAT AUSTIN MUNICIPAL CODE GOVERNS, UH, THE RENAMING OF OUR, UH, OF FACILITIES AND OF PARKS.
AND SO THIS PROCESS WAS INITIATED TO RENAME THE BARTON SPRINGS BATH HOUSE.
IT WAS INITIATED VIA THE APPLICATION.
AND I TOOK, TOOK A SCREENSHOT OF THAT.
AND SO THE ASK IS FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED TO BE RENAMED THE JOAN MEANS CABBEL BATHHOUSE AT BARTON SPRINGS POOL.
UM, THIS, I BELIEVE THIS WAS GIVEN TO US, THIS APPLICATION WAS RECEIVED SOMETIME IN OCTOBER.
UM, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT THE, HOW THE REST OF THE PROCESS, UH, THE NAMING PROCESS IS GOVERNED BY THE CURRENT CODE.
SO I KNOW THAT YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ME BRING FORWARD SOME CODE, A REPEAL AND REPLACEMENT THAT HAS NOT GONE TO COUNCIL, NOR HAS IT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE YOU ASKED THAT IT COME BACK TO THE PARKS BOARD FOR ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION.
AND SO IT'S BEING GOVERNED BY THE EXISTING CODE, WHICH IS WRITTEN, UM, WHICH IS OUTLINED RIGHT HERE.
SO ON OCTOBER, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UH, WE NOTIFIED YOU, WE NOTIFIED THE CITY LEADERSHIP, UH, IN THE CITY MANAGER.
AND WE ALSO NOTIFIED CITY COUNCIL VIA WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE THAT WE HAD RECEIVED AN APPLICATION TO RENAME THE BATHHOUSE TO THE JOAN MEANS CABBEL BATHHOUSE AT BARTON SPRING AND THIS ART AND SPRINGS.
AND THAT STARTED OR INITIATED THE PROCESS THAT I'M ABOUT TO, UM, EXPLAIN, WHICH IS THAT IT'S INITIATED BY THE APPLICATION.
[03:05:01]
AND THEN WE GO THROUGH, UH, A, A COMMUNITY COMMENT PERIOD.AND THAT COMMUNITY COMMENT PERIOD IS 90 DAYS.
AND IT ENDED ON, WHEN WE STARTED IT, IT STARTED AT OCTOBER, AND THEN WE ENDED THAT IN JAN ON JANUARY 18TH.
AND SO THIS WAS THE NEXT MEETING AFTER BEING ABLE TO COMPILE THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD TO THE PARKS BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND THIS PARKS BOARD, UM, CAN VOTE TODAY.
HOWEVER, IT HAS, UH, HAS A TIME PERIOD.
IT HAS 45 DAYS TO MAKE A DECISION.
AND SO IF BY CHANCE TONIGHT WAS NOT A NIGHT THAT YOU FELT COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS, WE COULD BRING IT BACK MARCH 31ST, UH, AND THEN IT WILL GO TO CITY COUNCIL.
YOUR RECOMMENDATION WILL GO TO CITY COUNCIL, AND THEN CITY COUNCIL WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.
SO WE HAVE SUGGESTED HERE THAT APRIL 18TH WOULD BE THE DATE THAT IT WOULD GO BEFORE CITY COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, IF A VOTE, UH, IS COMPLETED TONIGHT, THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD GO, UH, A MEETING, AN EARLIER MEETING THAN THAT.
BUT THIS GIVES US PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE SURE WE MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PAPERWORK AND THE PROCESS FOR IT GETTING ON THE COUNCIL, UH, AGENDA FOR APRIL 18TH.
SO THE BATHHOUSE HISTORY BUILT IN 1947, UH, IN 1987.
I'M, I'M GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD, UH, SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SOME NAMING THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AT THE BATHHOUSE.
IN 1987, THE COUNCIL HAD A RESOLUTION APPROVED TO NAME A PORTION OF THE BA OF THE BATHHOUSE, UM, THE BJ BUSTER ROBINSON SENIOR INFORMATION CENTER.
AND THAT PORTION OF THE BATHHOUSE WAS WHAT WE CALL THE BASKET AREA AND SOME OFFICE AREA.
AND THEN IN MAY OF 19, MAY 8TH, 1997, THERE WAS A NAMING OF THE BEVERLY S SHEFFIELD EDUCATION CENTER, AND IT WAS LIKELY COMMITTED COMPLETED ADMINISTRATIVELY.
AND IN YOUR BACKUP, I BELIEVE IN THE MEMO THAT I SENT TO YOU ABOUT THIS IN ADVANCE OF TONIGHT'S, UM, PRESENTATION, I PROVIDED, UH, COPIES OF THE RESOLUTION AND THEN COPIES OF THE INFORMATION.
WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS LIKELY DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY AND THAT BOTH OF THESE THINGS PROCEEDED CURRENT CODE.
HOWEVER, THEY'RE VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT CODE AND, AND THAT THEY WERE FEATURES NAMED WITHIN THE BATHHOUSE, WHICH WOULD, UM, IT WOULD MEAN THAT THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE NAMES TO CONTINUE TO BE THERE TO NAME THOSE FEATURES THAT OFFICE SPACE OR THE, THE EDUCATION CENTER, BUT YET ALLOW THERE TO BE THE RENAMING OF THE ENTIRE BATHHOUSE AS SUGGESTED.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, I WAS GONNA GO THROUGH A, UH, HISTORY, BUT, UH, THE, OUR FAMILY AND OUR FRIENDS THAT, UM, ARE PROBABLY KNOW MS. JONES, MEAN KELLI, WAY BETTER THAN I COULD EVER KNOW HER, HAVE ALREADY SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU.
BUT THIS WAS ALSO PART OF YOUR BACKUP.
AND THAT IS, UM, THOSE ARE SOME PICTURES OF HER THAT WE HAVE IN OUR FILES.
THIS IS A, A, A SLIDE THAT JUST KIND OF GIVES YOU THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY SURVEY SAID.
AND SO BASICALLY THE COMMUNITY SURVEY SAID THAT 86% OF THE INDIVIDUALS WERE INTERESTED OR BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO RENAME THE BATHHOUSE AS SUGGESTED IN THE APPLICATION.
AND 14% SAID THAT THEY, THEY THOUGHT PERHAPS THAT WAS NOT AN, AN IDEA THAT THEY COULD SUPPORT.
AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN FOLKS SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T SUPPORT IT BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, UM, THE REASONS BEHIND THAT WAS BECAUSE THEY FELT AS THOUGH WE WERE, UM, TOO MUCH OF OLD AUSTIN WAS GOING AWAY OR THAT WE WERE, UM, WE SHOULD JUST LEAVE THINGS THE WAY THAT THEY ARE INSTEAD OF, UM, CONTINUING TO RENAME THAT.
IT WAS THAT KIND OF, THE RENAMING WAS, UM, PROBLEMATIC IN AND OF ITSELF, RIGHT? NOT THAT IT WAS THE JOAN MEANS CABBEL RENAMING, BUT JUST THAT RENAMING IN AND OF ITSELF WAS PROBLEMATIC FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
BUT OVERWHELMINGLY YOU WILL SEE THAT IT WAS SUPPORTED.
THE NEXT STEPS ARE FOR THE PARKS BOARD TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
UM, THAT RECOMMENDATION COULD BE TO, UH, SUPPORT THE RENAMING OF THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE TO THE JOAN MEANS CABBEL BARTON SPRING, I'M SORRY, JOAN MEANS CABBEL BATHHOUSE AT BARTON SPRINGS.
AND THEN BASED UPON YOUR RECOMMENDATION, IF THAT SHOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, YOU WOULD EITHER, UH, SAY YES OR NO.
AND THEN THIS REQUEST WOULD GO TO CITY COUNCIL TO BE PLACED ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA, UM, FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION AND ACTION.
SO PER CODE, WHEN WE'RE RENAMING A, AN ICONIC FEATURE, I'M SORRY, AN ICONIC FACILITY WITHIN THE, THE DEPARTMENT OR WITHIN THE PARK SYSTEM, UH, IT IS A, A COUNCIL ACTION THAT IS REQUIRED.
SO I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MCNEELY? OKAY, AT THIS TIME I WILL MAKE A MOTION.
[03:10:01]
WELL, I'LL BACK UP.UM,
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THERE'S A, WELL, THOSE WERE, THEY WERE MY TWO CO-SPONSORS
I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO GET IT.
SO THE SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER, UH, READ, UM, ANY DEBATE ON THIS OR DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS? YES, I WILL MAKE A COMMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE BATHHOUSE WORKING GROUP, UH, UM, WITHIN PARKS AND RECS SUGGESTED THIS SAYS A NAME, UM, WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, AND WE WENT THROUGH A, A PRETTY LONG PROCESS.
AND SO, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THIS CAME BACK IN THIS WAY AND I WAS REALLY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THAT WORKING GROUP, UM, AND TO LEARN MORE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
AND SO, AND THEN JUST ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY SPOKE TODAY IS, UM, JUST REALLY PROUD OF YOURSELVES AND THRILLED THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE PART OF THIS.
UM, AND AS I HEARD MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT IT, IT WAS A MOVEMENT THEN, AND I THINK IT CAN BE SEEN AS A MOVEMENT NOW.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY IN PLACE AND TIME, OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
IF I COULD JUST ADD THAT, UH, WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE APPLICATION BEING SUBMITTED IN AUGUST, I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED BY SCOTT COBB, WHO ALSO CAME BEFORE YOU A FEW TIMES TO EXPRESS, UM, HIS SUPPORT FOR THIS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT.
NO, THE ONLY THING I, THE ONE I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY THIS MUCH.
'CAUSE I, I, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON AS CHAIR OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD.
I, I, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE WANTED TO DO IS NOT ONLY SUPPORT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO TO HIGHLIGHT AND EMPHASIZE AND PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN, THAT ARE, UH, WEREN'T ABLE TO WRITE THEIR OWN HISTORY.
BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO MITIGATE THAT, WE'RE ACTUALLY NOW TAKING THE PROACTIVE STEPS TO ACTUALLY HONOR THEM AND SHED A SPOTLIGHT ON THEM.
UM, SO FOR ME, THIS IS PARTICULARLY A VERY MEANINGFUL THING THAT WE GET TO DO.
AND JUST LIKE MISS BOARD MEMBER BAAN, UM, I WAS HONORED TO HAVE BEEN WORKING PART OF THE WORKING GROUP, UM, WHICH WAS LED BY MINORITY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, IN ORDER TO, FOR US TO HAVE ADVANCED THIS IDEAL AS WELL.
UM, AND I WILL SAY TO YOU THE POINT, UM, I FORGOT WHICH YOUNG GENTLEMAN, UH, SET, MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT THE STAFF AT THE POOL NOT KNOWING WHO JOHN ELLI WAS.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, IT'S, IT, HOPEFULLY THIS IS ONE STEP TO HELP MOVE FORWARD ON THAT FRONT TO GET, SO PEOPLE KNOW WHO JOAN MEETS CAPELLI WAS.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK I SAID LIKE A YEAR AGO WHEN I GOT ON THE, ON THE BOARD IS, IS LIKE IT'S, WE KNOW WHO SAVED THE SPRINGS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO DESEGREGATED THE SPRINGS.
AND THAT'S EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT TODAY AS IT AS IT WAS BACK IN THE 1960S.
SO FOR ME, IT'S A HUGE HONOR TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS AND TO BE ABLE TO VOTE TO ADVANCE, UH, THIS RECOMMENDATION FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL NOW TAKE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[4. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the permanent use of an existing Park and Recreation easement adjacent to the Wildhorse Ranch PUD #10. Total Mitigation is $6,282.]
TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I, UM, UH, GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS IS BRIAN GOLDEN WITH THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
AND TONIGHT, UH, WE ARE REQUESTING, UH, A, UH, RECOMMENDATION OF, UM, UH, APPROVAL FOR A CHAPTER 26, UM, UH, UH, APPLICATION FOR THE BREAKER EXTENSION THROUGH, UH,
[03:15:01]
A PARKLAND EASEMENT.SO, THIS SITE IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF, UH, LINDELL LANE AND BLUE BLUFF ROAD.
UH, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 7,500 SQUARE FEET OF A PARKLAND EASEMENT, UM, THAT HAS ALSO BEEN DEDICATED AS RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE BREAKER LANE EXTENSION.
SO YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT HERE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, UM, THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN THE IMMEDIATE, UH, THE SENATE VICINITY, UM, THE RIGHT OF WAY, UH, EXTENSION HAS BEEN ACQUIRED THROUGH THESE DEVELOPMENTS, UM, AS PART OF THEIR, UM, TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS REQUIREMENTS AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS.
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE, THE ROADWAY EXTENSION, UH, OVERLAYS ON TOP OF THE, UH, PARK EASEMENT AND NEXT SLIDE.
SO REALLY, REALLY BRIEF, UM, OVERVIEW BREAKER LANE IS A MAJOR ROADWAY.
IT'S A LEVEL THREE ROADWAY IN THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN.
UH, THE RIGHT OF WAY ITSELF HAS ALREADY BEEN DEDICATED.
THAT WAS PART OF A, UH, THAT WAS DEDICATED THROUGH A STREET DEED, UH, WITH AN ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT.
UM, WE ARE REQUESTING, UH, THIS PERMANENT CHANGE OF USE FOR THE PARKLAND EASEMENT, UH, SO THAT THE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE BUILT.
UM, AND THIS WOULD BE DONE THROUGH THE CHAPTER 26 PROCESS.
THE BREAKER, UH, ROADWAY EXTENSION, UM, WILL BE BUILT WITH PROTECTED BIKE LANES, SIDEWALKS, UH, TREE PLANTING ZONES, UH, AND EVENTUALLY A LANDSCAPE MEDIAN AND, AND BUFFERS.
UM, AS PART OF OUR, UM, UH, MOU WITH PARD, UM, WE HAVE, UH, AGREED TO, UM, MEMORIALIZE A, UH, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE CROSSING, UM, WITHIN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF, UM, WHERE THAT PARK EASEMENT, UH, FALLS ACROSS THE ROADWAY.
SO, AS PART OF THE, UH, APPLICATION, THE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, UH, WILL BE PAYING THE PROCESSING FEE FOR THIS, UM, TRACKER 26, UH, PROCESS.
SO WE, UH, WOULD REQUEST A, A RECOMMENDATION, UM, TO APPROVE THE USE OF THIS 7,800 SQUARE FEET, UM, FOR THE AS S AND P REQUIRED ROADWAY FOR THE BREAKER EXTENSION.
UM, TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS, UM, COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A, UH, SAFE, UH, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE CROSSING, UM, TO BE, UH, IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THE, THE EASEMENT CROSSING.
UM, AND THEN THE, THE ROADWAY ITSELF WILL CONTINUE TO BE BUILT OUT OVER TIME, UM, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, UH, DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AREA.
SO I'M HERE FOR, UH, ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS? I'M JUST TRYING TO REMEMBER WHEN THIS CAME BEFORE US.
WASN'T THE, DIDN'T THIS, UH, TWO YEAR, UH, TWO YEARS TWO, UH, LAST MONTH.
BUT I GOT RESET BECAUSE I THINK THE LANGUAGE, THE, THE POSTING LANGUAGE WAS WRONG.
WAS IT IN JANUARY? NO, ACTUALLY IT WAS, WAS IT IN DECEMBER? GREG MONTE WITH PARKS AND REC.
UM, ACTUALLY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT COMES BEFORE THIS BOARD.
UM, I THINK THERE WAS SOME INTERNAL WORK THAT WE WERE DOING INTERNALLY WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UH, TRANSPORTATION BEING ONE OF THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE AS WELL.
SO YES, IT WAS GOING TO COME FORWARD AND THEN IT WAS REMOVED, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT PRESENTATION HAD ACTUALLY BEEN MADE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
YEAH, BACKUP, MY BACKUP SECOND.
SO THE BACKUP HAD, I THINK, MADE IT TO, TO YOUR EMAIL BOX, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THIS BODY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY.
AT THIS TIME, UM, CHAIR, YES, IF I MAY, UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO JUST POINT OUT THAT IF YOU, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A REQUEST, UM, THE POSTING LANGUAGE THAT'S PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA.
AND I THINK WHAT WAS SHOWN ON THE PRESENTATION, I DON'T KNOW IF
[03:20:01]
IT'S POSSIBLE TO BRING THE PRESENTATION UP, THE VERY LAST SLIDE, PLEASE.I THINK THAT THE VERY FIRST BULLET WOULD PROBABLY BE A MORE ACCURATE, UH, POSTING LANGUAGE TO USE THAN WHAT'S PUT ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF YOU WOULD WANT TO MAKE A MOTION, YOU MAY WANT TO USE THAT LANGUAGE.
WELL, I THINK, YEAH, JUST TO BE CLEAR, I THINK, UH, I DON'T WANT RUN ANY ISSUES IN THE FUTURE.
UM, FOR THE PURPOSES OF GIVING THE PUBLIC NOTICE, I THINK THE AGENDA ITEM AS LISTED IS CORRECT.
I WILL BE, HOWEVER, USING THE FIRST BULLET POINT TO MAKE A MOTION.
SO, OR WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT, UM, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT THERE BE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE 7,818 SQUARE FEET FOR FUTURE ROADWAY CONNECTION ON PARKLAND WITH TOTAL MITIGATION BEING $6,282? THERE'S A REC, THERE'S A, THERE'S A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBER HAMAN IS THERE, SORRY.
WAIT,
AND SO THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING TO, IF YOU REFER TO THE LAST BULLET, SORRY FOR NOT THE LAST BULLET.
THE LAST BULLET WE THOUGHT YOU SAID FIRST.
THE FIRST BULLET, AND THE LAST FIRST BULLET HAS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING JUST YOU WANT IT WITHOUT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT? YES, IT HAS THE SQUARE.
OH, YOUR SLIDES ARE DIFFERENT.
OH, YOUR SLIDES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OURS.
THE ONE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN IS THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
THERE WERE TWO VERSIONS OF THE PRESENTATION POSTED IN BACKUP.
Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY REFERRING TO ZERO FOUR DASH ONE.
THERE IS AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE PRESENTATION LISTED AS ZERO FOUR DASH FIVE OH.
SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA REMAKE MY MOTION.
MY MOTION IS THAT WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE 7,818 SQUARE FEET FOR AN AN A SMP REQUIRED ROADWAY CONNECTION THROUGH A PARKLAND EASEMENT.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THERE'S A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER HAMAN, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME.
WE, WHAT WE DISCUSSED THEN WAS THE, THE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT RIGHT, AND THE DEDICATION OF, OF PARK LAND.
UM, IT WAS LIKE 5.2 ACRES OF, OF PARK EASEMENT AS AN EXCHANGE OR SOMETHING FOR THE BREAKER OR THE FOR THE BREAKER LAND THAT GOES, THE EXTENSION THAT GOES THROUGH PARKLAND.
AM I CORRECT? THERE WAS A PARK, UH, RECREATIONAL EASEMENT THAT WAS APPROVED BACK IN 2020.
THAT IS THE EASEMENT, THAT BREAKER LANE EXTENSION IS CUTTING THROUGH.
SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHICH RELATED EASEMENT OR PLD PROJECT YOU MIGHT BE REFERRING.
SO THIS IS A DIFFERENT, THE WILD HORSE.
IT MIGHT BE, I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE REFERRING TO, BUT THE ACTUAL EASEMENT THAT'S IN QUESTION HERE.
IT IS GETTING, UM, DISSECTED BY THE EXTENSION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR BREAKER LANE WAS ACTUALLY, UH, RECORDED IN 2020 IN MAY OF 2020.
THEY'RE BOTH WILDHORSE THOUGH.
THIS WAS, DID IT DIFFER? NINE OTHER PUN.
OH, THAT ONE WAS THE WILD WHOLE PLA PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THEY'RE JUST RELATED, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T KNOW.
I BELIEVE THE LAST, UH, TIME WE LOOKED AT THIS, IT WAS FOR, UH, REVISIONS TO THE AMOUNT OF PARKLAND DEDICATION FOR THE WILDHORSE PUD, AND THAT WAS RELATED TO THE EXTENSION OF BREAKER LAYING THROUGH THE PROJECT.
SO THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS, UM, GIVEN NESS OF TOPOGRAPHY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND SO IT WAS FOR A CHANGE TO HOW MUCH PARKLAND WAS BEING PROPOSED WITH THE PROJECT.
SO YOU, SO BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN, YOU'RE SAYING THAT, SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT BACK IN SEPTEMBER WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PARKLAND DEDICATION, BUT THAT THIS TIME WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE SPECIFIC EASEMENT.
IS THAT CORRECT? BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN? YES.
FROM WHAT I RECALL, THE LAST ONE WAS TO APPROVE A CHANGE TO THE
[03:25:01]
PARKLAND DEDICATION THAT WAS DONE WITH THE P FOR A WILDHORSE.AND PART OF THE TRIGGER FOR THAT WAS THIS BREAKER LANE EXTENSION.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A SEPARATE ITEM STILL RELATED TO THE BREAKER LANE EXTENSION.
THAT'S PART OF THE MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN, BUT THAT THIS IS JUST FOR THE EASEMENT.
SO SAME PROJECT, BUT DIFFERENT ASPECT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? ALL RIGHT.
AT THIS TIME I'LL TAKE A, UH, I'M GONNA TAKE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND BOARD MEMBER, FRANKLIN AND BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR, IF Y'ALL ARE THERE, WILL YOU PLEASE? OKAY.
YOU CAN'T SEE US? NO, I, I CAN'T SEE YOU BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR.
OH, I, IT'S, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'VE, I'VE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE ALL NIGHT.
I, BUT I CAN, I'M ON THE CAMERA, BUT YES, I'M, I, OKAY.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER.
[6. Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council to approve the Conditional Use Permit for Waller Creek Boathouse/Austin Rowing Club for the sale of alcohol to bring the site into compliance with the Land Development Code. (PARD Long Range Strategies: Operational Efficiency, Program Alignment)]
UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX.IS THERE ANYONE SPEAKING ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? OKAY.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PRESENTER.
AND WHO'S THE PRESENTER FOR THIS? UH, LONDO.
RONALDO HERNANDEZ, PROJECT MANAGER, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
MY NAME IS, UH, ALDER HERNANDEZ.
I'M A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, REPRESENTING THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.
UH, THIS EVENING, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ELIZABETH, UH, BARNHART IS HERE AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS ON THE OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR WALLER CREEK, UH, BOATHOUSE.
SO THE WALL CREEK BOATHOUSE, UM, WE ARE SEEKING, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS RECREATION DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB IS SEEKING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
THE WALL CREEK BOATHOUSE IS, IS OWNED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO THE PARKS OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S MANAGED BY THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CUP IS TO ALLOW THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IN ITS DESIGNATED AREA.
IN THIS CASE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WALLER CREEK BOATHOUSE FACILITY AND THE CUP WILL CHANGE THE ZONING OF THE, UH, WALL CREEK BOATHOUSE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR THE SALE OF ALCOHOL.
A QUICK OVERVIEW IN BACKGROUND.
THE WALL CREEK BOATHOUSE IS OPENED IN 2012.
IT WAS THEN AT THAT TIME THAT THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, UH, BECAME THE CONCESSIONAIRE OF THAT, UH, FACILITY.
THE FORMER CAFE NAME WAS THE ATLAS CAFE.
IT IS NOW GONE THROUGH A, UH, UH, NAME CHANGE AND IT'S NOW CALLED THE PERCH.
AND IT IS CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH A TEXAS ALCOHOL BEVERAGE, UH, COMMISSION PERMIT THAT BEGAN THE SALE OF ALCOHOL BACK IN 2012.
THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS A PERMIT THAT IS REQUIRED BY CITY CODE OR THE ORDINANCE OF SALE OF ALCOHOL.
AND AGAIN, THE, UH, CUP WILL CHANGE THE ZONING ONLY.
RIGHT NOW IT'S CURRENTLY LISTED AS PUBLIC AND IT'LL CHANGE IT TO PARK AND RECREATION SERVICES SPECIAL, AND THAT WILL ALLOW THE PERMIT, UH, WELL THE PERMIT WILL ALLOW FOR THE SALE OF ALCOHOL ON PARKLAND.
UH, ONE THING TO NOTE HERE IS THAT THE CUP THAT WE ARE, UH, THAT IS BEING REQUESTED, DOES NOT APPLY TO SPECIAL EVENTS.
SO SPECIAL EVENTS WILL, UH, REQUIRE THEIR OWN SEPARATE, UH, TABC PERMIT.
SO THE TEXAS ALCOHOL BEVERAGE COMMISSION, TABC, UM, IT'S A STATE COMMISSION THAT GOVERNS THE SALE OF, UH, ALCOHOL IN THIS CASE FOR THE WALNUT CREEK BA UH, BOATHOUSE.
IT IS GOVERNING THE SALE OF WINE AND BEER.
THEY HAVE CURRENTLY A TWO YEAR LICENSE, AND IT IS RENEWABLE.
THAT CURRENT LICENSE WILL EXPIRE ON OCTOBER 10TH, 2024.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN ISSUE
[03:30:01]
CITATIONS FOR ANYONE WHO CONSUMES ALCOHOL OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AREA THAT'S BEEN DESIGNATED, AND THEY CAN ALSO ISSUE CITATIONS IF THEY'RE VIOLATING ANY OTHER KIND OF, UH, STATE LAW.AND AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 CAN SELL ALCOHOL, AND NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 OR OVER, I'M SORRY, UNDER THE AGE OF 21, CAN CONSUME ALCOHOL.
THERE IS AN OPERATIONAL PLAN IN PLACE THERE JUST, UH, FOR SOME INFORMATION.
THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB HAS ABOUT 300, UH, ROWING MEMBERS.
AND IN SEASON AND PICK SEASON, THERE ARE TYPICALLY ABOUT 70 STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE WORKING AT THE, UH, FOR, FOR THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB.
THE ROWING CLUB IS, UH, HAS A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE VENDOR.
AND IN THAT AGREEMENT, THEY ARE, UM, GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOLLOWING TABC GUIDELINES AS WELL AS THE CUP UH, GUIDELINES.
THE OPERATING HOURS FOR AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, UH, FOR THE WINTER HOURS.
UH, PRESENTLY THEY'RE CLOSED MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY, AND THEY'RE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY FROM 8:00 AM TO 4:00 PM THE PERCH, UH, IS ESSENTIALLY SELLS SPECIALTY COFFEES, UH, REFRESHING BEVERAGES, SMOOTHIES, AND, UH, FOOD ITEMS. AND THEIR CURRENT HOURS ARE THURSDAY TO SUNDAY FROM 8:00 AM TO 4:00 PM AND THEY'RE CLOSED MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY.
AND THEIR AVERAGE SALE OF BEER OR WINE, UH, ON A MONTHLY BASIS AVERAGES BETWEEN 9.5 TO 11.6% OF TOTAL SALES.
THIS IS AN IMAGE OF THE CUP PLAN THAT WAS SUBMITTED, UH, TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, UH, DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW.
THE ARROWS WITH THE BLACK LINE DOES REPRESENT ACCESS POINTS INTO THE BUILDING.
THE ARROW ON THE UPPER RIGHT IS THE ACCESS POINT INTO THE MAIN LEVEL OF THE FACILITY AT THE GROUND LEVEL, UH, FROM THE TRAIL, THE ARROW AT THE BOTTOM LEFT REPRESENTS AN ENTRANCE INTO THE FACILITY FROM THE LOWEST LEVEL OF THAT FACILITY.
THE YELLOW AREA IS THE, UH, AREA THAT'S, UH, PROPOSED AS THE CUP AREA.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS THE AREA WHERE THE SALE AND THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, UH, WILL BE ALLOWED.
THE TRIANGLES IN BLACK THAT OVERLAP THE YELLOW ARE THE LOCATIONS OR THE PROPOSED LOCATIONS OF THE SIGNS THAT WILL BE POSTED.
SO THE SIGNS WILL BE POSTED AT ENTRANCES AND EXITS WITHIN THIS AREA TO INFORM THE PUBLIC, UH, WHERE THEY CAN CONSUME AND CANNOT CONSUME ALCOHOL.
THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE IS 1007 57 SQUARE FEET.
AND, UM, THAT IS THE ENTIRE AREA WHERE THE CUP IS BEING APPLIED TO.
THE REQUEST FOR THIS, UH, FOR THE CUP IS FOR THE PARKS BOARD TO SUPPORT THE APPROVAL, UH, TO CONTINUE THE SALE OF ALCOHOL AT THE WALL CREEK BOATHOUSE THROUGH THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND TO BRING THAT SALE OF ALCOHOL, UH, OF THE, ON THE SITE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
AND THAT COMPLETES MY PRESENTATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? I HAVE A, JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION.
SO WHO, WHO'S GETTING THE, WHO'S GETTING THE CUP? IS IT THE PERCH OR IS IT THE AUSTIN ROWING CLUB, OR IS IT BOTH? SO THE DEPARTMENT IS, UH, SUB SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION FOR THE CUP IN ORDER TO BRING IN OR TO BRING IN COMPLIANCE, THE SALE OF ALCOHOL, UM, AND WINE, I'M SORRY, SALE OF BEER AND WINE AT THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION.
SO IT'S A JOINT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND A RC.
SO BOARD, IF I, OR CHAIR, IF I COULD ADD TO THAT.
IT, IT'S THE, IT'S THE LAND, RIGHT? IT'S THE LAND THAT'S OWNED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT THAT WILL HAVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC ENTITY, IT'S THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION, THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF PARKLAND.
SO THE LAND IS OWNED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S LEASED OUT TO THE ROWING.
A RC AND A RC HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PERCH FOR PART OF THE BUILDING.
YEAH, SO WE DON'T LEASE PARKLAND.
WE HAVE A USE AGREEMENT, A CON, A USE AGREEMENT, AND THAT USE AGREEMENT, UM, THAT WAS SIGNED, UH, IN, IN BACK IN 2014.
I AG I BELIEVE, UH, ALLOWED FOR, UH, THERE TO BE A CAFE.
AND THAT CAFE, UH, CELLS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY OR HAS BEEN SELLING ALCOHOL SINCE THAT TIMEFRAME.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO BRING THIS LOCATION INTO COMPLIANCE, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE, IT'S NOT LIKE A LICENSE THAT THE, THE VENDOR HOLDS.
[03:35:01]
IT'S A, A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.I'M JUST TRYING TO VISUALIZE HOW THAT PARTNERSHIP'S WORKING.
SO DEPARTMENT HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE A WITH A RC AND THEN RRC CHOOSES A VENDOR AND THE VENDOR END UP BEING THIS WHOEVER RUNS THE PERCH? YES.
WAS THERE A FORMER CUP BACK IN 2012? NO, THERE WAS NO CUP, THIS, THIS HAS BEEN OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
SO WHEN THIS WAS ORIGINALLY, YEAH.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I HAVE THIS CORRECT.
UM, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THE PERCH HAS BEEN OUT OF COMPLIANCE AND SELLING ALCOHOL FOR 10 YEARS, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE WEREN'T ON THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S COME UP BEFORE, AND I BELIEVE YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THIS ISSUE PREDATES DIRECTOR MCNEELY.
SO THERE WERE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WERE NOT, THAT WERE FOUND TO NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS.
AND WE'VE VOTED ON SOME OF THEM PREVIOUSLY.
AND I GUESS FOR SOME REASON THIS ONE IS STILL HANGING ON.
AND, AND SO WHAT HAPPENED IS, IS THAT THERE ARE, TO THE POINT THAT YOU JUST MADE VICE CHAIR, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF, UH, UH, LOCATIONS WITHIN THE PARK SYSTEM THAT WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE.
AND SO SYSTEMATICALLY WORKING WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT, THE WAY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE IS TO BRING THEM IN COMPLIANCE.
WE HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY BEEN DOING THAT.
YOU HAVE HEARD THESE, UM, THESE CASES PREVIOUSLY FOR OTHER LOCATIONS AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? YEAH.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF A RECENT CUP THAT, SO REPUBLIC SQUARE.
UH, WAS, UM, ALSO SELLING ALCOHOL.
WE HAD TO BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE RIGHT BEFORE WATERLOO GREENWAY OPENED, IT WAS OPEN.
WE BROUGHT IT INTO COMPLIANCE.
IT KIND OF HAPPENED SIMULTANEOUSLY AS IT WAS OPENING.
UM, I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS THIS, THIS ONE AND THEN WE'LL BE BRINGING GOLF COURSES TO, TO YOU IN THE FUTURE.
UM, OKAY, SO IF WE ARE GONNA BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE, UM, AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S, THIS ACCOUNTS, I THINK YOU SAID 9% OF THEIR THEIR SALES, IS THAT CORRECT? NINE TO 11% OF THEIR SALES? YES.
UM, HOW MUCH DOES THE CITY GET OF THE, AT THAT, OF THE, WHAT PERCENTAGE DOES THE CITY GET OF THOSE NINE TO 11% OF SALES? THE PARK, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
SO I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE, UH, THE CONCESSION, UM, AT THE CONCESSION AGREEMENT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE BROUGHT BEFORE THE, UH, CONCESSIONS AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK THAT UP FOR YOU AND, AND PROVIDE YOU THAT INFORMATION.
I DON'T KNOW IT OFFHAND WITHOUT LOOKING IT UP.
BECAUSE I GUESS I JUST REALLY WANNA KNOW.
UM, BUT YET, SO IF YOU, I, I GET WHY YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT NUMBER, BUT IF THEY WEREN'T IN COMPLIANCE BEFORE, WERE THEY REPORTING THE ALCOHOL SALES AND WERE THERE TOTAL SALES THAT THEY WERE REPORTING? DID THEY INCLUDE THE ALCOHOL SALES OR WAS THAT SEPARATE BEFORE THAT THEY WERE IN COMPLIANCE.
SO THEY, BEING OUT OF COMPLIANCE SIMPLY MEANS WE, WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT THEY HAVE HAD A CAFE.
WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT THEY'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO, OR THAT THEY HAD BEEN SELLING ALCOHOL.
WHAT WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, HAVING GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AS IS REQUIRED BY THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
SO BACK IN 2014, THERE WAS A MISINTERPRETATION AS TO HOW YOU ALLOW ALCOHOL TO BE SOLD ON PARK'S PROPERTY.
THEY WEREN'T NOT REPORTING IT, IT'S JUST THAT WE WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T, BECAUSE WE MISINTERPRETED HOW THE CODE APPLIED TO THIS TO BEING ABLE TO SELL ALCOHOL.
SO THE ALCOHOL SAYS WE ALWAYS INCLU INCLUDED, IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? CORRECT.
THE, THE SALE OF THE ALCOHOL WAS ALWAYS INCLUDED IN THE REPORTING OF WHAT THEY WERE YEAH.
IN THEIR, IN THEIR OVERALL REVENUE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE, UH, IS IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO RECOMMEND TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE WALLER CREEK BOAT HOUSE? AUSTIN ROWING CLUB FOR THE SALE OF ALCOHOL TO BRING THE SITE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE? SO MOVED.
THERE'S A MOTION BY BOARD BY FLOWERS.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.
UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR DE DEBATE ON THE MOTION? ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN, UH, ALL ARE, WERE YOU IN FAVOR? BOARD MEMBER TAYLOR?
[03:40:01]
YEAH.ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE ABSTAINING.
UM, WE HAVE EIGHT MINUTES LEFT.
[7. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. (PARD Long Range Strategies: Relief from Urban Life, Urban Public Spaces, Park Access for All).]
DIRECTOR MCNEELY ON NUMBER SEVEN.IS THERE ANYTHING PRESSING? UH, I THINK THERE'S AN 18 PAGE REPORT THAT YOU CAN READ AT YOUR LEISURE.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD, UM, THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT IT'S MY PARK DAY IS THIS COMING SATURDAY.
AND SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIP AND PROVIDE SOME VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES AT VARIOUS PARKS, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON THE ONLINE AT, UH, THE AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE THAT HELPS TO COORDINATE THOSE ACTIVITIES.
AND TIM WANTED ME TO TELL YOU THAT WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT A SURVEY ABOUT THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE IT MORE, UH, WE CAN COMPILE IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS THE MOST USER FRIENDLY TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE READING IT.
SO PLEASE LOOK FORWARD TO GET RECEIVING THAT SURVEY.
IT'S ONLY A FEW SIX QUESTIONS, I THINK.
AND WE SHOULD HAVE ALL GONE AN EMAIL IN REGARDS TO THAT.
ALRIGHT, BOARD, UH, AGENDA ITEM
[8. Update from South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. (Bazan).]
NUMBER EIGHT, UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE, SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD.UM, WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT COMBINING DISTRICT AND HAD A PRETTY ROBUST Q AND A SESSION ABOUT THAT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT I MENTIONED IT LAST TIME.
IT IS, IT'S UP ON THE SITE FOR REVIEW.
UM, AND THAT WAS A MAJORITY OF OUR TIME OTHER THAN, UH, TALKING ABOUT BUDGET, BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR BOARD MEMBER PAAN ON? ALRIGHT, UH, AGENDA
[9. Update from Downtown Commission. (Franklin).]
NUMBER, NUMBER NINE, UH, UPDATE FROM DOWNTOWN COMMISSION.THE DOWNTOWN COMMISSION MEETING WAS LAST WEEK AND THERE WERE NO ACTION ITEMS WHICH WOULD AFFECT, UH, PAR AT THIS TIME.
[10. Update from Joint Sustainability Committee. (Bazan, Becker).]
10.UPDATE FROM JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
THAT WAS A SERIES OF UPDATES AND ALSO LOOKING OVER BUDGET AND STRATEGIC PLAN REVIEW.
SO ALL AVAILABLE ON THE SITE,
[11. Update from Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Working Group. (Flowers, Orme, Merritt, Becker, Franklin)]
O OKAY, AGENDA NUMBER 10, WHICH IS UPDATES FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25 BUDGET WORKING GROUP.SO HOPEFULLY EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MINUTES, WHICH WERE POSTED AS BACKUP FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
UM, SO WE WILL MEET AGAIN, JUST FINALIZE NEXT WEEK.
ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, I HOPE TO HAVE SUZANNE PIPER FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THERE TO GIVE, UH, A VERY PRELIMINARY INTERNAL SORT OF LOOK AT WHAT THEIR OWN BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS MAY BE.
IT'S PRELIM WILL BE PRELIMINARY IF SHE'S ABLE TO MAKE IT.
UM, AND THE, IN ORDER TO STAY ON TIMELINE, WE HAVE TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD BY THE MARCH MEETING.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HEADED TOWARDS.
MY GOAL IS TO HAVE A DRAFT RECOMMENDATION POSTED WITH THE BACKUP AND CIRCULATED BY MID-MARCH, BUT IT'S GONNA MEAN THAT AFTER WE MEET NEXT WEEK, WE'LL HAVE TO, UH, WORK QUICKLY TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
I'LL POINT OUT WE HAVE TALKED TO JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, UM, A BIT.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH UNFORTUNATELY A WOMAN WHO, I CAN'T REMEMBER HER NAME.
UM, BUT WE TALKED AT LENGTH ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING.
I THINK THEIR MEETING IS LATER THIS WEEK AND THEY WILL BE PASSING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO THAT'S WORTH LOOKING AT IF YOU HAVEN'T, UM, UH, PAID ATTENTION TO THAT.
UH, AND THEN, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, SHE WAS ALSO ON ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
HER AND I TALKED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
I THINK WE'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO UTC.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN ANY ACTUAL CONNECTION MADE THERE.
WAS THAT YOU BOARD MEMBER FRANKLIN THAT DID THAT REACH OUT? YES, I DID REACH OUT TO THE CHAIR FOR U THE UTC AND I NEED TO GET WITH YOU ON SCHEDULING A QUICK CALL WITH HER.
UM, SO WE'RE TALKING TO UTC AS WELL.
THE IDEA BEING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO COORDINATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH THE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY RECOMMENDATIONS WE MAKE HAVE THE MAXIMUM IMPACT IF MULTIPLE BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS ARE ABLE TO MAKE AGREE ON LANGUAGE AND MAKE THEM TOGETHER.
UM, SO WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ZKO SHUTTLE.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN OTHER THINGS THAT CITIZENS HAVE SENT US.
SO, UM, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO SEND THOSE THINGS.
I KNOW WE GOT SOME TODAY OR FRIDAY AS WELL.
UM, SO AT THE MEETING NEXT WEEK WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE AS WELL AS HEAR FROM PARD AND THEN HOPEFULLY MAKE SOME GAME PLANS FOR THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATION.
SO, UM, I AM HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS IF FOLKS HAVE THEM.
ANY SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME WE HAVE.
AND I WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE BOARD MEMBERS TO LET BOARD MEMBER FRANK, UH, BOARD BOARD IF I SHARE FLOWERS, UH, KNOW, UH, OF ANY REQUESTS OR THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE THIS, THIS IS THE TIME WHERE WE AVOID THE WALKING QUORUM.
SO IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS YOU HAVE NOT
[03:45:01]
BROUGHT UP ALREADY OR YOU WANT AN UPDATE ON ANYTHING, NOW IS A GOOD TIME.UM, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE ON THE RECREATION CENTERS THAT THE, THE LOOK AT IT CITYWIDE MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
UM, I WAS JUST BRINGING UP ONE, ONE EXAMPLE, BUT I THINK THAT THAT IS GREAT.
AND THEN JUST ON THE SUMMER CAMP CAPACITY, IF THERE'S, IF THERE IS A WAY TO LOOK AT BUDGET, UM, AROUND, AND I DON'T KNOW, UM, AROUND ARTS AND CULTURE AND NATURE AND SCIENCE AND SPECIFICALLY LIKE DOES IT COST MORE TO RUN THOSE? COULD WE HAVE MORE OF THOSE? THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE FILLING.
AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING, LIKE, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I GOT RECENTLY FROM SOMEBODY WAS, UM, IT SAID, JUST LOST BIG TIME IN THE AUSTIN CITY PARKS PROCESS.
PEOPLE LOVE THESE AMAZING AND AFFORDABLE CAMPS THAT BRING TOGETHER CHILDREN FROM SO MANY BACKGROUNDS.
AND SO I REALIZE THAT THE, THE FACILITIES CAPACITY ISSUE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A BUDGETING ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS THE TYPES, UM, IF SOME COST MORE THAN OTHERS OR NOT.
I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU, BUT I DON'T WANNA DROP THAT ALL TOGETHER.
WELL, WHILE WE'RE HERE, AND I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, BUT IT DIRECTOR MCNEELY, I KNOW THIS IS OFF THE CUFF, BUT DO YOU THINK THAT'S MORE OF A STAFFING ISSUE, A SPACE ISSUE OR A MONEY ISSUE? YEAH, IT'S, IT, IT'S BOTH.
SO THE MONEY, RIGHT? SO SOME OF THEM, SOME OF THEM HAVE PHYSICAL CAPACITY BUT NOT, UM, FINANCIAL CAPACITY.
SOME OF THEM DON'T HAVE PHYSICAL CAPACITY.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO, UM, TO INCREASE, TO INCREASE THE, SO BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, GUS GARCIA, EVEN IF WE HAD MORE MONEY, WE, WE COULDN'T PUT ANY MORE CHILDREN IN THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM WITHOUT IT BEING OVERCROWDED.
BUT NOT EVERY RECREATION CENTER IS LIKE THAT.
AND WE LIKELY HAVE A, A, A CHART THAT WE COULD PROVIDE YOU.
AND THE OTHER THING I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE THE CAMPS COST DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO OUR, SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME COST US MORE.
I, I JUST, YEAH, THERE'S A COST OF SERVICE.
THERE'S A COST OF SERVICE FOR EACH CAMP THAT WE COULD PROVIDE YOU INFORMATION.
WE CALL IT A PROGRAM PLANNING WORKSHEET OR A WORKBOOK AND MM-HMM.
SO WE COULD SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
YEAH, I JUST, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THERE ARE OPENINGS IN SOME, BUT THEN THERE ARE LIKE NO OPENINGS IN ARTS AND CULTURE, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO BOARD, BOARD MEMBERS, JUST REALLY QUICKLY, OKAY, I HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULES AND ALLOW, UH, THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD TO MEET AFTER 10:00 PM IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, SO YEAH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY, IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THOSE MATERIALS TO THE WHOLE BOARD, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND I CERTAINLY WILL ALSO SEE WHAT I CAN GATHER FROM SUZANNE, UM, WHEN I TALK TO HER AS WELL.
UM, SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I DON'T WANNA KEEP LIKE BEATING IT, BUT IF THERE IS A, IS A WAY TO PROVIDE SOME HELP BUDGET WISE, I THINK LOOKING AT THAT IS GOOD.
UM, I KNOW I SAID, OH GOD, IT'S ABOUT TO BE 10 O'CLOCK.
UM, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE MOTION THAT WE HAVE TO PASS THAT'S GONNA BE TAKEN UP BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING.
SO THAT'S ALL TO SAY IS IF ANYBODY HAS SOMETHING TO ASK OR TELL CATHERINE, PLEASE FEEL FREE.
LIKE, WE ARE NOT, WE'RE GONNA BE HERE FOR LIKE ANOTHER LIKE FIVE, 10 MINUTES.
SO JUST ON, ON THE TRANSPORTATION RECOMMENDATION, UM, HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY MORE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE GATHERED, UM, IN THE, THAT WHEN WE HAD THE ZILKER SHUTTLE WORKING GROUP.
AND SO YEAH, IF YOU COULD SEND THAT INFORMATION TO ME AND MAYBE LANE, UM, LANE MAY ALREADY HAVE IT, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST, JUST SEND IT TO US TO MAKE SURE IT'S SURFACED BEFORE THE MEETING NEXT WEEK, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND THIS IS JUST COST ESTIMATES THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IN THE PAST FROM, UM, RICARDO SOLI AND FROM DIRECTOR.
COULD YOU JUST, COULD YOU JUST TELL ME THAT I, I BET YOUR PARTNER, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ADDENDUM.
I DIDN'T HEAR THE, WHAT'S THE SUBJECT MATTER? WE CAN CERTAINLY GET IT TO YOU.
THIS WAS THE, UM, THIS WAS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM LAST MONTH, THE, THE, UM, FOR THE TRANSPORTATION STUDY IN THE ZILKER VICINITY AND THE SHUTTLE BUDGET.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I, I, I WILL JUST MENTION, UH, MRS. UM, AND THIS MIGHT BE, THIS MIGHT BE A REACH GOAL, BUT, UH, FUNDING FOR MORE LIKE, UH, INCREASING ACCESS TO SOCCER FIELDS AND BASEBALL FIELDS.
UM, THE SOCCER FIELDS RELATES TO WHAT I WENT ABOUT TO PRESENT.
BUT, UM, THE BASEBALL FIELDS IS WE, WE CLEARLY SAW A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TODAY, UM, WANTING THAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT THE, I MEAN, I ASSUME IT'S A FUNDING ISSUE.
IT'S ALSO PROBABLY AN INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE, WHICH WE CAN'T DO.
WE, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT.
BUT, UM, YEAH, I MEAN I THINK IT'S A FUNDING ISSUE IN SO FAR AS THE FIELDS ARE RESERVED FOR THE CLUBS THAT HAVE ALREADY RENTED THEM OUT MAYBE.
BUT WE'RE JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE JUST SO AT LEAST WE CAN, YOU KNOW.
ANYWAYS, UM, ANY OTHER THINGS? UM, ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER HAS ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ONE LAST AGENDA ITEM THAT I FORGOT, WHICH IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 12, WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING RECOMMENDATION REGARDING, UH, SOCCER IN AUSTIN.
UM, I'M SURE ALL OF Y'ALL GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ
[03:50:01]
THE AGENDA, UH, THE POSTED, UH, RECOMMENDATION, UM, IN, UH, IN BACKUP, UM, IN, UH, IN REGARDS TO THIS AGENDA ITEM, UM, IT WAS ME AND, UM, BOARD MEMBER ORM THAT IS BRINGING IT FORWARD.UM, AND THE REASON I, I WANTED TO BRING IT FORWARD IS BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL'S GONNA TAKE UP A RESOLUTION TACKLING THIS SPECIFIC THING.
IT'S GONNA BE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 59 AND IT'S BEING TAKEN UP I THINK THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK.
UM, AND THE PURPOSE OF THE RESOLUTION IS ONE IS, IS TO, IS TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN AUSTIN, UH, WITH THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING, UH, SOCCER FIELD ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I THINK WITH THE GROWING POPULARITY OF AUSTIN FC, UM, AND WITH A GROWING YOUNGER POPULATION, WE'VE JUST SEEN A BOOM IN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN PLAYING SOCCER, UM, COUPLED WITH LIMITED SOCCER FIELDS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN.
SO THIS, THIS, THIS IS REALLY JUST DIRECT THE RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL'S GONNA, IF IT PASSES, WE'LL DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO AGAIN LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN REGARDS TO MAKE AUSTIN A QUOTE, SOCCER CITY.
UM, UH, I'LL READ THE NOW THEREFORE BE AS THE, THE RESOLVE CLAUSE ON MY RECOMMENDATION, UM, WHICH IS THAT, UH, RECOMMENDS WELL, I WILL MAKE, I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT, UH, RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH AUSTIN AS A RECOGNIZE SOCCER CITY, INDIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO ANALYZE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS IN SOCCER FIELD DEVELOPMENT AND SOCCER PROGRAMMING AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS.
IS THERE ANY, IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
THERE'S A SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER BAAN.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THIS? I'LL JUST SAY THAT I, I I LOVE THIS IDEA.
WHAT, WHAT'S THE DEFINITION OF A RECOGNIZED SOCCER CITY? IS THERE, ARE THERE OTHERS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WE CAN COMPARE TO? UH, THAT I'M NOT UNSURE.
I'M, I AM UNSURE OF I, I'M MIRRORING THE LANGUAGE THAT CITY COUNCIL USED.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE ARE, AND I WOULD SAY LIKE MAYBE LIKE SEATTLE, HOUSTON, LOS ANGELES, UH, MAYBE SOME OF THOSE CITIES JUST 'CAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE A HUGE SOCCER FAN BASE THERE.
IN FACT, I THINK LA LOS ANGELES JUST GOT A SECOND SOCCER TEAM.
SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT LOS ANGELES IS A SOCCER CITY.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
THE NAME
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, AT THIS TIME I WILL, UH, TAKE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, UM, AT THIS TIME IT IS NOW 10 10 0 4 AND I AM ADJOURNING THE MEETING WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION.
THANK, ARE WE DOING FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? YES.
THERE IS AN OBJECTION FROM BOARD MEMBER RE OBJECTION.
SO, UM, WE WILL GUESS WHAT'S YOUR FUTURE AGENDA ITEM?
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
OKAY.UM, JUST KIND OF PENDING HOW THINGS WORK OUT WITH THE, WITH THE BUDGET WORKING GROUP.
UM, WE MIGHT WANT TO BRING OUR TRANSPORTATION RECOMMENDATION FORWARD AGAIN, UM, WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS.
AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO A REQUEST BY CITIZENS TO, UH, REVIEW THE BARTON SPRINGS BATH HEALTH HOUSE WOMEN'S, UM, BATHING AREA, SHOWERING AREA.
SO BOARD MEMBERS WITH REGARDS TO THE BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE.
THAT CONTRACT HAS ALREADY BEEN EXECUTED.
THE DESIGNS HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
IT'S THE NOTICE TO PROCEED WAS ALREADY GIVEN TO THE, TO THE, UM, ENTITY THAT IS DOING THE CONSTRUCTION.
SO THERE WILL BE VERY MINIMAL THINGS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HAPPEN.
AND THERE IS A MEETING THAT, UH, A CM HAYDEN HOWARD, SO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, HAYDEN HOWARD, HAS SCHEDULED WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAME TO TONIGHT TO DO A WALKTHROUGH TO SEE WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE WITH THE, WITH THE, UM, I'M SORRY.
WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE WITH REGARDS TO CHANGE ORDERS, UM, WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER.
SO THAT WILL BE HAPPENING ON THURSDAY, I TELL YOU ALL THAT BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IN TIME IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST TOO DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
SO WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING YOU BACK INFORMATION, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT THE, THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY MAKE SOME CHANGES, WHAT, WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.
SO I'M, I'M NOT IN ANY WAY TRYING TO, UM, REBUT WHAT YOU'VE SAID.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS FULLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
AND AFTER, MAYBE AFTER HEARING FROM THE ASSISTANT
[03:55:01]
CITY MANAGER FROM UM, HAYDEN HOWARD, UM, WE WOULD KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS EVEN POSSIBLE AND WHETHER IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THE PARKS BOARD WOULD CONSIDER.ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? OKAY.
THIS TIME, THIS, I WILL ADJOURN AND IT'S NOW 10 0 7.